What is wrong with Mcdavid?

[AlainVigneaultsGum]

Nothing. Dude is obviously playing hurt.

 

[SeanMoneyHands]

Even if your best player is injured, on a solid team other guys would pick up the slack, your depth comes through. But the Oilers are a team full of passengers. McDavid is the only driver.

 

[Oleksiak]

Their defense and goaltending have been problems for YEARS my guy. You’re the one that suddenly thinks the quick fix is if McDavid commits to a more defensive game. And yet I’m ridiculous…

It still wouldn't be good, but it's hard to hold the rest of the team accountable when your captain doesn't even attempt to backcheck. McDiver's character issues and laziness are a big part of the reason the organizational culture has made defence completely optional. They need to bring in a coach with the balls to tell him that he either plays like man or he sits.

 

[VivaLasVegas]

McDavid is the franchise. You allow him to heal. While he is healing, you pay close attention to who steps up and who doesn't. Does not have to be points and wins or losses don't matter. Just who steps up. Those who don't find themselves on the short end of some cold, hard decision making.

The Oilers' problem is that they don't have a season to burn. Draisatl's contract expires at the end of next season, which means that at the end of this season they either have to trade his one-year contract and get something back, risk losing him to UFA and getting nothing back, or extend his contract which will probably be in the $15M range based on what Matthews is getting (and which will further gut the team, which is already at the Cap, and even with the Cap increase). The following year, they face the same problem with McDavid. Since McDavid and Draisatl are very close buddies, the thinking is that if Draisatl goes, then McDavid goes too. But if they can get Draisatl to stay, then maybe McDavid stays too, albeit his new contract will likely be in the $20M range. [Basically, with the probably untradeable Nurse contract at $9.25M, this means that the Oilers will have somewhere between $40M-$45M tied up in three players.]

The bottom line is that this is the last season where the Oilers' window was at least theoretically open before they get into a situation where they have to make some very hard decisions that will either see them losing one or both of their top stars, or else paying McDavid and Draisatl such huge salaries that it becomes simply impossible to surround them with a quality supporting cast.

The harder truth is that the Oilers' window has now closed, and their decision is coming down to either blowing it all up and totally rebuilding from scratch without Draisatl and McDavid (but getting at least *something* for their remaining contracts), or just keep on truckin' with Draisatl and McDavid with even a worse team behind them.

 

[GreatGonzo]

It still wouldn't be good, but it's hard to hold the rest of the team accountable when your captain doesn't even attempt to backcheck. McDiver's character issues and laziness are a big part of the reason the organizational culture has made defence completely optional. They need to bring in a coach with the balls to tell him that he either plays like man or he sits.

The great lengths people will go to avoid the obvious and blame McDavid for everything. So foolish yet funny at the same time.

 

[TropicOfNoReturn]

I really don't get some hockey fans' need to defend McDavid at all costs.
It baffles me how plenty of people seem to think that none of the Oilers on-ice and culture issues can be attributed to him. He is only a victim. Poor him.

Every single person in an organization contributes to the culture. Some have much larger impact than others. McDavid is among those.

The state of the team is largely on him at this point, 8+ years into his career.

Stop saying the Oilers are wasting McDavid, or that it's a shame if he doesn't win a Cup. He is not any more deserving of a Stanley Cup than any other NHL player.

 

[VivaLasVegas]

Their defense and goaltending have been problems for YEARS my guy. You’re the one that suddenly thinks the quick fix is if McDavid commits to a more defensive game. And yet I’m ridiculous…

Never said that it would be a "quick fix" but it might help, the point being that McDavid as the team Captain who sets an example for others hasn't even been bothered to try.

 

[SeanMoneyHands]

The Oilers' problem is that they don't have a season to burn. Draisatl's contract expires at the end of next season, which means that at the end of this season they either have to trade his one-year contract and get something back, risk losing him to UFA and getting nothing back, or extend his contract which will probably be in the $15M range based on what Matthews is getting (and which will further gut the team, which is already at the Cap, and even with the Cap increase). The following year, they face the same problem with McDavid. Since McDavid and Draisatl are very close buddies, the thinking is that if Draisatl goes, then McDavid goes too. But if they can get Draisatl to stay, then maybe McDavid stays too, albeit his new contract will likely be in the $20M range. [Basically, with the probably untradeable Nurse contract at $9.25M, this means that the Oilers will have somewhere between $40M-$45M tied up in three players.]

The bottom line is that this is the last season where the Oilers' window was at least theoretically open before they get into a situation where they have to make some very hard decisions that will either see them losing one or both of their top stars, or else paying McDavid and Draisatl such huge salaries that it becomes simply impossible to surround them with a quality supporting cast.

The harder truth is that the Oilers' window has now closed, and their decision is coming down to either blowing it all up and totally rebuilding from scratch without Draisatl and McDavid (but getting at least *something* for their remaining contracts), or just keep on truckin' with Draisatl and McDavid with even a worse team behind them.

If the Oilers had a GM with some balls and with how this season has been going and with what's at stake, they would trade Draisaitl or at least see what offers come in for him.

The only way that Draisaitl resigns is if he takes a serious hometown discount and I just don't see that being the case. Unfortunately him and McDavid are attached to the hip. If one goes I think both go but not necessarily to the same team.

 

[GreatGonzo]

Never said that it would be a "quick fix" but it might help, the point being that McDavid as the team Captain who sets an example for others hasn't even been bothered to try.

And again, we are back to…their defense and goaltending will magically learn how to play better and be competent if McDavid sets an “example.” You really have no clue how ridiculous you sound do you?

 

[fmrdh]

He's hurt, nothing to see here.

He probably rushed himself back because he has no faith in the team otherwise.

 

[VivaLasVegas]

If the Oilers had a GM with some balls and with how this season has been going and with what's at stake, they would trade Draisaitl or at least see what offers come in for him.

The only way that Draisaitl resigns is if he takes a serious hometown discount and I just don't see that being the case. Unfortunately him and McDavid are attached to the hip. If one goes I think both go but not necessarily to the same team.

Exactly.

 

[gretzkyoilers]

Maybe it is because BioSteel went bankrupt and McD can no longer get his extra boost??

 

[Windy River]

This is all a manifestation of his core weakness, he lacks leadership.

 

[Video Nasty]

“To vilify a great man is the readiest way in which a little man can himself attain greatness.”

 

[DamonDRW]

Some posters are quite delusional here. McDavid is the only asset Oilers have in the whole organization. No GM, no D except for Ekholm, no goalies, no supporting cast except for Draisatl. Basically nothing.

I guess he just got tired psychologically. If 150 pts phenomenal season cannot get them deep in the playoffs, nothing in that organization can. No matter whether he magically becomes Sakic or Yzerman at D or not.

 

[AndreRoy]

Did everyone watch Yzerman play in his own end and then suddenly all those HOFers and defensive specialists were so “inspired” that they decided…you know what, I think I’ll play defense too! Or were they simply competent.

Lightning players and coaches have repeatedly talked about how Stamkos hustling on defense and throwing his body in front of pucks sets the tone for the rest of the team. When your future-HoF captain is sacrificing his body and doing everything he can to keep the puck out of his own net, it does make a difference.

 

[Coffey]

I guess he just got tired psychologically. If 150 pts phenomenal season cannot get them deep in the playoffs, nothing in that organization can. No matter whether he magically becomes Sakic or Yzerman at D or not.

Bingo. Exactly how I feel and wrote earlier too.

 

[MacMacandBarbie]

You want to talk about nit picking…you bring up a series a few years ago where he showed up…now you bring up a series years before that to double down.

Duh, because you hijacked a convo about McDavid’s entire playoff career, specifically some of his struggles early on. What did you expect?

Not sure what to say about the Yzerman thing, obviously he changed his game to become more well rounded, and if you think he was out of his prime when he started to make those changes in his mid 20s then whatever man. Crosby also worked on his 200ft game as he got older. He wasn’t past his prime when he won the cup in his mid 20s either.

 

[DFF]

It still wouldn't be good, but it's hard to hold the rest of the team accountable when your captain doesn't even attempt to backcheck. McDiver's character issues and laziness are a big part of the reason the organizational culture has made defence completely optional. They need to bring in a coach with the balls to tell him that he either plays like man or he sits.

Somewhere in Alberta Darryl says ’hi'

He can also turn McDavid into a 50 pt scorer lol

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

“To vilify a great man is the readiest way in which a little man can himself attain greatness.”

The irony.

 

[Svechhammer]

My impression of the OP after he created the thread title

 

[Video Nasty]

The irony.

I can see why you would think that, if you feel like commenting on how Crosby never displayed the individual dominance over his peers that his frenzied supporters would lead you to believe is a dig at the player, not his acolytes.

 

[beowulf]

Playing injured

I think this is the main issue with him so far this season.

 

[PaulD]

I'd be giving up mentally too if I were him.
Putting up 150+ points only to deal with the sieves on defense and in net.

Just counting down the days till he can hit free agency and I for one don't blame him.

Win a cup elsewhere.

Mackinnon never gave up when his team kept flopping.
Stamps never gave up when his team kept flopping.
Matthews ans Marner don't give up. They have won one round in their careers.
Tavares has won sweet pisss all in two cities and he never gives up.
Sid never gives up .
Yzerman never gave up.
Mario never gave up.
Sakic lost forever in Quecec and never gave up.
Ovechkin went 13 seasons without getting a sniff .......never gave up.

NEWS FLASH McDavid hasn't "given up mentally" either. Nor will he ever.
Team has no goaltending AND he is experiencing his biggest slump.
Plain and simple.

 

[Coffey]

Mackinnon never gave up when his team kept flopping.
Stamps never gave up when his team kept flopping.
Matthews ans Marner don't give up. They have won one round in their careers.
Tavares has won sweet pisss all in two cities and he never gives up.
Sid never gives up .
Yzerman never gave up.
Mario never gave up.
Sakic lost forever in Quecec and never gave up.
Ovechkin went 13 seasons without getting a sniff .......never gave up.

NEWS FLASH McDavid hasn't "given up mentally" either.
Team has no goaltending AND he is experiencing his biggest slump.
Plain and simple.

Those players never played on a level of Connor last year.
Never have, never will.