There’s nothing quite like seeing the best athletes compete on the biggest stages and during the most important moments in sports.
Right now, we’re getting to witness that at the Olympic Men’s Hockey tournament, especially thanks to Connor McDavid.
But what can the Edmonton Oilers take away from what they’re seeing?
9 Things
9. The Oilers are a team with a lot of experience. Even though every player would have liked to represent their country in the Olympics, could this time off actually help the Oilers, especially their older players, as the season continues? I’m thinking specifically about Mattias Ekholm, who has been playing well for the Oilers this year. He is going to be really important as the season winds down.
8. So far, I would say that Team Canada’s defense is doing better than people expected before the Olympics. What was thought to be a “weakness,” compared to some of the top teams, has actually been performing quite well. They are coached by Pete DeBoer, who isn’t coaching anyone else right now. On the other hand, we know that the Oilers’ defense has really struggled this season. Interesting. . .
7. I’ve heard some awkward talks about how this tournament won’t be a true “best-on-best” competition until the Russians return. Last I checked, the Russians are still causing problems in Ukraine. I feel sorry for some Russian players who might not have done anything wrong personally to be left out. But I can only say to them, “talk to your President. ” There’s going to be more about the Olympics soon. . .
6. There were some surprised reactions when player agent Ritch Winter talked about Calvin Pickard’s situation with Edmonton. The key point he made was, “There’s not enough proof that the other players are better. ” Those who read my work know that I’m supportive of Pickard, too. But I wouldn’t think too much about Winter’s comments. What else would he say about his client? Calvin could still have an effect on this season. We’ll see.
5. What do the Edmonton Oilers need most before the deadline? A lot of people are talking about getting another good forward. But I think it’s more important for them to find another experienced defenseman. Oilers announcer Bob Stauffer mentioned last Friday that he thought they should focus on forwards, but now he believes they should aim for another defenseman too. That’s good news to me. Even though the Oilers have strong forwards, they can score enough goals. What they really have to improve is their defense. That’s all there is to it.
4. As Team Canada gets ready to play on Sunday, they have a slight lead at the top of the standings for the 2026 Olympic Men’s Hockey. It’s unusual for Canadian players to run up the score in any game, as it’s one of those unspoken rules in hockey. However, they need to ignore that when they face France on Sunday. If Canada wants to end up in first place and face an easier opponent, they need to win by more than what the U. S. A. might win by against Germany. They can’t hold back.
3. Nobody wants to see a player’s Olympic dreams end because of an injury. So, I really felt bad when Kevin Fiala got hurt during the Canada-Switzerland game. It looked like an accident that happened during a play with Tom Wilson. If you want to discuss whether NHL players should compete in the Olympics due to the risk of injuries and how it affects their teams, that’s fine. But the NHL Players’ Association was very clear about how much the players wanted to go to Italy. An injury like Fiala’s could just as easily have happened during a regular preseason game.
2. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl from the Edmonton Oilers are having very different experiences in the Olympics. Leon, despite his teammates, has to carry a lot of the effort for an improving German team, which is similar to what he does in Edmonton. This must feel somewhat familiar for him. In contrast, McDavid has been a key player for an incredibly strong Team Canada, but he has a lot more skilled players supporting him compared to what he has in Edmonton. McDavid won’t say it because he thinks highly of his teammates, but it must be refreshing for him.
1. Speaking about McDavid, isn’t it exciting to watch his performance in Italy so far? His amazing skills, competitive spirit, and physical play are really standing out against some of the best players in the world. If you enjoy hockey as much as I do, this is a wonderful sight. I remember watching the legendary Bobby Orr play in his prime. The last time Bobby truly shined was during the 1976 Canada Cup, where he was the most valuable player and outperformed everyone else on the ice, even with many future Hall of Fame players around.
One thing I’ve noticed during these Olympics is how little ice time Connor McDavid is getting compared to his usual time in Edmonton. He played for 18 minutes and 4 seconds against Czechia, and then 14 minutes and 22 seconds against Switzerland. This season, McDavid averages a career-high 23 minutes and 7 seconds per game with the Oilers. And look, I understand that if I were Kris Knoblauch, I would also want to use my best player a lot. But Kris doesn’t have the same depth of players to choose from as John Cooper does. No NHL team can match that.
But just take a look at how great each of McDavid’s shifts have been so far in Italy. Because he is well-rested, he can go all out every time he steps onto the ice. This makes every shift feel like a special moment.
Would the Oilers perform a bit better if Connor played a little less time, especially in less important moments?
It’s tough to disagree with what we are seeing from him in Italy so far.
Food for thought for Kris Knoblauch.
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