Edmonton Oilers: Billy Moores Cup 2015
By Kurt Leavins
The Edmonton Oilers have a special, special player in Connor McDavid.
It is easy to understand that, intellectually. The numbers, the team accomplishments, the draft pedigree, all of it tells anyone who can read most of what they need to know about a player. But according to me, it never comes completely into focus until you have seen that player, live. It is the art beyond the science. And Connor McDavid was doing the painting, at Edmonton Oilers Development Camp Monday.
I wish I did not feel the need to qualify my comments before I even start, because then I am just playing into the agendas of nay-sayers, whom have already made their appearance on Edmonton’s sports talk shows this Summer. But since I will inevitably get called on them anyway:
This was a scrimmage. A game basically played by shinny rules, between a bunch of teenagers and/or kids barely into their 20’s. It was mostly 4-on-4 (and some 3-on-3), not particularly physical, with nothing much on the line, etc, etc, etc. The Edmonton Oilers did not win the Stanley Cup, at Rexall Monday night.
O.k., that said: Holy hell, can this McDavid kid ever play! He scored 5 times, and even when he wasn’t putting the puck in the net, he was setting up players less skilled than he, creating danger all over the ice each shift. His speed, while formidable, was somewhat overshadowed tonight by his puck handling capabilities, which were absolutely ridiculous. His touch around the net appears elite. And he reminds me a little of how Bobby Orr used to carry himself on the ice, a quiet, humble, not-wanting-to-show-up-the-other-guy attitude…even though he clearly just did. He is the real deal, folks. Wow.
Connor McDavid was not the only one of the Edmonton Oilers on the ice, however. A number of other prospects showed well also. So, while McDavid was other-worldly in this specific sample, here is a run-down of the other notables:
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Darnell Nurse, had it not been for his teammate on the White squad wearing #97, would have been the best player on the ice. Nurse covers 200 feet in a flash, arrives in a foul mood, and emerges with the puck practically every time. You can easily see the makings of a future #1 NHL defenceman in him.
Leon Draisaitl started a shade slow, perhaps, but really picked up his game toward the first half, and was dominant in the second, and even more so in the 3-on-3 period. The way he sees the ice and distributes the puck is sublime. And while he is not “quick”, his straight-ahead speed has improved.
The above three players, Connor McDavid, Darnell Nurse and Leon Draisaitl, should dominate at this level, in a game such as this. You would be worried if they did not, even though their competition is made up of top-notch junior and collegiate players. So…some pleasant surprises?
-Ben Betker. He uses that 6’5″ each of his very effectively, and yet is a remarkably smooth skater for a man of his size. He also appears to have pretty good first-pass skills. I liked him. Arrows up.
-Greg Chase. Early on, I thought Chase was having trouble keeping up, though he adjusted and had a strong (if unspectacular) second half. I suspect a player of his size & grit will show better in a real intra-squad game.
-Kyle Platzer. I this kid has a chance at being an NHL player. Clearly had a touch with the puck, was dangerous attacking, and looked a little “heavier” than his 172 pound frame would have suggested.
-Caleb Jones. This kid was way better than I had expected. He moves the puck extremely well, and was more than capable on his own end. He out-played Fellow draftee Ethan Bear, who was having foot-speed issues.
-Zachary Nagelvoort had a strong game, including an exceptional save on Leon Draisaitl which left the big German shaking his head in disbelief. He stood out among the goalies, though all were decent.
There were a handful of others than had o.k. games, but it would be extremely dangerous to read much into those performances, as I could not see any of them standing out in a real NHL game in the same fashion.
On a night when your best players should have been your best players, they very clearly were. And the 7,000+ fans at Rexall Place, on a hot night in July, were visibly impressed, and at peace with how the spent this beautiful summer night.
In a rink.