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Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid expressed sadness over the passing of Johnny Gaudreau on Thursday. Johnny and his brother Matthew died in a bike accident on Aug. 29. Hockey fans were shocked by the news, and many remembered him for his talent and kind personality.
McDavid often played against Gaudreau. He shared his thoughts about him at the NHL North American Player Media Tour.
“I’m grateful I had the chance to play against him, played playoff series against him, played many heated battles in the Battle of Alberta against him, and got to know him a little bit,” McDavid said (via NHL.com).
“I’ll miss him a lot. He was a great player and great person, and obviously was taken away way too soon.”
Connor McDavid also fondly recalled playing alongside Gaudreau during the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. They were teammates on Team North America, a squad comprising young players.
Many NHL players, including Auston Matthews and Sidney Crosby, also shared memories of Gaudreau. Despite being smaller than most players, Gaudreau inspired young athletes. Matthews praised him for proving that size wasn’t everything in hockey.
Connor McDavid growing out of Stanley Cup finals loss
Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers are preparing for the new season after losing in the Stanley Cup finals. They lost to the Florida Panthers by only one goal in Game 7, making it painful for the Oilers' captain.
“It's something that you'll never really get over,” McDavid said on Sept. 4 during training camp in Vail, Colorado.
McDavid has changed his training approach, focusing on staying fresh instead of overtraining.
“You don't necessarily need to peak Sept. 18, but you need to peak for Oct. 9 when the first game is,” McDavid said while discussing the changed strategy. “This summer I took some time off the ice, rested a little bit. I was working hard off the ice, but I didn't go on the ice until August. Five great weeks on the ice, and I'm feeling good and ready to roll again.”
The Oilers are learning from last season's mistakes, including a slow start, and aim to perform better from the beginning. McDavid has grown as a leader and wants the team to keep its strong identity while adjusting to new players. The main goal remains winning the Stanley Cup.
