Connor McDavid watched the possible 2025 first-overall draft pick Matthew Schaefer crash into the post against Latvia and break his clavicle in Canada’s second game at the U20 World Juniors, and No. 97 knows how the teenager feels.
McDavid did the same thing in November 2015 as an 18-year-old when he slammed into the end boards in a violent collision with Philly’s Brandon Manning. McDavid had surgery and missed three months—same timeline for the defenceman Schaefer, who also plays junior for Erie Otters, McDavid’s old OHL team.
“Obviously he’s a great skater and he’s going a million miles a minute and runs into the post there. Unfortunate. Those things happen. He’s young; he’ll heal well but it’s extremely disappointing playing at the world juniors and in his draft year,” said McDavid, who also wore the maple leaf for Canada once upon a time.
“Disappointing for Team Canada and Erie, his club team. I wish him well,” said McDavid, tied with Mark Messier for third spot (1,034) in Oilers career points.
Schaefer, a dynamic defenceman who checks hard in his end and rushes the puck up ice with ease, U.S. centre James Hagens (Boston College) and OHL winger Porter Martone, Brampton) are the three highest-rated players going into next June’s draft.
Mum’s the word
The Oilers had their mum’s on the road trip to Los Angeles and Anaheim, a loss in OT to the Kings and a 5-3 L to the Ducks. “They didn’t bring a lot of luck for us but it was great having them there, said McDavid, admitting if it was a dads’ trip they might have been more critical.
“Yeah, little different with the mums on the plane after a loss than the dads,” he laughed.
More nervous playing in front of mum Kelly than dad than dad Brian?
“No. I’ve played thousands and thousands of games in front of mum. But we would have liked to get a win for them,” he said
“Everybody in here will tell you how much your parents do for you, your mum in particular. Great to share that with her. The Oiler organization puts on a great show for them and treats them so well. Everybody’s appreciative of that.”
Oiler goalie Calvin Pickard says a parents’ trip is special stuff.
“My dad once got on two dads’ trips in one season when I got traded (from Philadelphia to Arizona in the 2018-2019 season),” he said.
Alec Regula still on the mend
Oiler waiver claim pick-up defenceman Alec Regula (Boston) still hasn’t practised with the team yet after his knee surgery this summer. He was playing in the Bruins organization in the AHL (Providence).
Regula, claimed on Dec. 11, may eventually get to Bakersfield for conditioning. The 24-year-old right-shot D had 26 points and was plus 36 in 55 games for Bruins’ AHL farm club in Providence last season.
“He was on the ice today, but not with us. Just rehab skates. He’s spent so much time not practising, just rehabbing (knee). It’ll take awhile before he’s practising with us,” said Knoblauch, who is still carrying just six healthy defencemen on the roster.
High marks for Connor Brown
Right-winger Connor Brown is third on the team in points per 60, producing at almost a first-line level but hasn’t gotten that shot regularly, and probably won’t. But Knoblauch has certainly noticed his production after Brown’s struggles for months last season.
“Connor got off to a slow start with one goal and no assists in his first 13 games,” said Knoblauch. “But since then he has 15 points in his last 23 games. Those are all even-strength or short-handed. In that stretch he’s had two games with Leon (Draisiatl) I believe and zero games with Connor (McDavid). For a guy playing 12 to 13 minutes a night and producing like this, yeah, he’s a guy who could elevate in the line-up.”
Looking for a fit for Leon Draisaitl
Does Vasily Podkolzin just work better stylistically with 29 on the left wing with Viktor Arvidsson than on right than Jeff Skinner?
“Yes, you can have a lot of skill on a line but there’s an element of breaking plays up and getting in on the fore-check (Podkolzin strength). There’s a lot of attributes to making a line successful and Podkolzin gives us a lot of that. Right now I believe Podkolzin is a good fit there,” said Oiler coach Kris Knoblauch.
This ‘n that
- USA world junior defenceman Paul Fischer (Notre Dame U), acquired from St. Louis the day the Oilers declined to match the Philip Broberg-Dylan Holloway offer sheets, unfortunately, is hardly playing as a seventh D. He played 6:09 against Germany as the Americans routed them, sat against Latvia and got just 5:19 of ice-time in the OT loss to Finland…
- On the Canadian side, D-man Beau Akey has barely had a sniff as a seventh D, as well. He got 2:38 against Finland and 2:48 against Germany. Lots of spectator time. He had 14 1/2 minutes against Latvia because Schaefer got injured…
- While Skinner was a healthy scratch in Anaheim and might again sit against Utah on Tuesday, there will be no tag days for the veteran. He’s made over $100 million in his career…
- Former Oiler Jesse Puljujarvi, who started the season well but got squeezed out of the regular line-up when Pittsburgh traded for Phil Tomasino and then got the injured Matt Nieto back, is on waivers. Puljujarvi has eight points in 21 games, but fell out of favour with coach Mike Sullivan. Somebody might claim him because he’s only $800,000 on the cap, only 26, and his contract is up at the end of the season. His skating is much better after his hip surgery…
- With Utah HC here New Years Eve, we would be remiss if we didn’t take a look at how ex-Oiler Kailer Yamamoto is going. He signed with Utah after a good camp tryout, but he’s toiling in the minors in Tucson. He’s got 21 points 20 games but can’t get a call-up…
- Former Oiler defenceman Michael Kesselring, surrendered by the Oilers in the Nick Bjugstad trade a few years ago, is a 19-minute top-4 D in Utah, though. He’s plus 10 and has 15 points in 35 games. Bjugstad, UFA again at this March trade deadline, is on the fourth line with Utah but somebody will trade for him because he’s big and a right-shot centre…
- Jarome Iginla’s son Joe had his first junior three-goal game for the surging junior Oil Kings Sunday in the 8-2 win over Red Deer. He’s the youngest Oil Kings’ player in history to get a hat-trick (16 years and 139 days).
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