Connor McDavid has built his reputation on precision, with every stride and every decision on the ice looking close to flawless. But as the new NHL season approaches, the Edmonton Oilers captain admitted things weren’t quite as sharp last year as they looked from the outside.
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On Sportsnet’s 32 Thoughts: The Podcast, he reflected on stretches that left him frustrated, especially after one international break that threw his rhythm off more than he expected. He didn’t pin it on injuries or blame teammates, which would’ve been easy to do.
Instead, McDavid got personal. Coming back from the Four Nations tournament, which he described as some of the fastest hockey he’s ever played, he just couldn’t find the spark right away. It bothered him.
“Last year, I came out of that Four Nations break and was just flat,” he said. “It took me a few weeks to get myself going again. Understanding that there may be those moments, there may be those little lulls, after not accepting them, but working through them and figuring that out.”
That kind of honesty stands out. For someone known for his laser focus, admitting he struggled with his timing makes him sound less like the untouchable superstar and more like a guy wrestling with the grind like everyone else, just at a higher level.
All of this comes while McDavid’s long-term future in Edmonton is being picked apart day after day. He’s 28 now, heading into the last year of his contract, and technically free to sign an extension. But he hasn’t, at least not yet.
He’s said more than once that he loves playing in Edmonton and wants to win there. Still, he’s also left the door wide open on timing. “It’s going to be a feeling,” McDavid explained. “When the time’s right, the moment’s right, it’ll just be a feeling.”
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The upcoming year isn’t just about the Oilers. McDavid also has the 2026 Winter Olympics circled in red. He admitted the last packed calendar wore him down and said he’ll have to manage his workload better if he wants to stay sharp all season.
The Four Nations tournament already gave him a glimpse of what’s coming. In his words, it was the fastest pace he’s ever experienced, and it drained him. But it also got him excited. The thought of representing Canada at that level, even with the added fatigue, is something he clearly embraces.
McDavid’s spot in hockey history is already secure, with multiple Hart Trophies, Art Ross titles, and even a Conn Smythe, despite no Stanley Cup yet. But this season has a different feel.
His candid talk about battling through his flat spots, the looming Olympics, and the uncertainty around a contract extension all rolled together into one massive storyline. As for McDavid, he summed up that the only way forward is to grind through, figure out the rough patches, and keep raising the bar.
