McDavid Takes the Blame: "It Starts With Me"
Connor McDavid doesn't usually accept blame publicly. He's too good, too professional, too focused on the next shift to dwell on mistakes. But after the Edmonton Oilers ' 6-2 embarrassment against the Pittsburgh Penguins—and following a lackluster 2-1 loss to the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday—McDavid did something rare: he pointed the finger at himself.
Video Transcript
Well, he's closer to 50 goals, Zach Hyman, than he's been in a while.
I mean, injuries have really, you know, he's, he's a heart-and-soul guy.
He's a guy who plays through injuries.
He did it with Toronto.
He's done it through with Edmonton.
He's done it in the playoffs.
Um, you know, there was some talk about him potentially being the replacement for Braden.
Point, uh, for Team Canada for the Olympics.
I don't know where that stands in terms of them replacing him.
But, I mean, you would know... You would think that in terms of him plugging in with Connor McDavid.
You know, there are some people who can play with Connor.
McDavid.
There are other people, it's too much to do it, and Zach Hyman has done it.
So, um, but yeah, I mean, he's 19 goals in 32 games.
I mean, if he played a full season, that's, you know, that's, that's like a 60-goal or 55 to 60-goal season.
So, um, you know, he's really playing well, and, I mean, the Oilers really need him to play at that level if they hope to make a deep playoff run.
Andre, uh, how important do you think that Hyman is going to be to the Oilers' success?
Or I guess maybe the flip side of that is, How detrimental will it be if he does manage-- you know, if he happens to get injured again or if, uh, this production level falls off?
How much do you think their success hinges on him?
Um, I think for sure he's a key, uh, not.
Not a driver, but he's a really good complementary player to Connor McDavid.
And, you know, I understand from afar, like, when Hyman is out, It seems like they're always juggling that top six.
You know, Draisaitl's up there.
Draisaitl's not up there.
Evgeni Hopkins moves around, but when Hyman is in, it seems like it's always him and McDavid.
On that top line.
Um, and he's been like this for years.
I mean, even back to his days in Toronto, he's been such a complementary player on top line next to superstars.
And Michael said it, You know, there's, there's beer leaguers that say, you know, Put me on a line with McDavid, and I can get 10 in a season," and stuff like that.
But it's true, you know, not everyone can play with the, the, the elite of the elite.
Um, at the speed he plays with, you know, Hyman's been able to keep up, and then, you know, scored 50 not too long ago, and the hot streak he's on right now.
So, it's a really big factor, and I think, you know, him hopefully being healthy for playoffs, Edmonton will be hoping to get back to the final again, and maybe with a different outcome for them this time.
