- Connor McDavid called Drew Helleson’s hit into the net “dangerous” after Edmonton’s 5-4 loss to Anaheim
- He wants plays into the post treated like plays into the end boards, which draw a five-game suspension
- Read below for video of McDavid explaining the hit and why it hit a nerve
Connor McDavid didn’t hide how he felt about the Drew Helleson hit.
The Oilers captain called the play “dangerous” after Thursday’s 5-4 loss to the Ducks and said he wants the league to treat a hit into the net the way it treats one into the end wall. Helleson drove him into the left post at 8:06 of the first period, and McDavid went to the room to be checked before coming back.
McDavid was asked about the play and why it bothered him so much.
“Obviously, it’s a play that is a little sensitive to me. Those are plays that I’ve been really, really hurt on before. Going into the end wall, going into the net, those type of plays I find to be dangerous. And obviously I didn’t love it.”
Watch McDavid’s full postgame media availability:
McDavid has been hurt on plays like it before. He broke his left collarbone as a rookie in 2015-16 when he crashed into the end boards after a collision with Philadelphia’s Brandon Manning and Michael Del Zotto, and he missed 37 games. In the final game of 2018-19, Calgary’s Mark Giordano tripped him into the post and he tore a PCL in his left knee.
McDavid explained why he sees the net as the same danger as the boards.
“I wish that we treated the net like we treat the end wall. If I do that to him going Mach 1 into the end wall, that’s a five-game suspension and everything. The net is just as dangerous in my opinion with the goalie there, the post there.”
McDavid isn’t asking for a free pass either. “You’re going to hit me like that and there’s going to be a response, that’s just the way it is,” McDavid said.
That response came from Vasily Podkolzin, who fought Helleson and was tossed with a game misconduct. We broke down the Podkolzin fight and the one-man fight call on Thursday night. McDavid said he appreciated the backup and didn’t like the call “one bit.”
A little emotion showed too. “I think people have me pegged as some type of robot, but I’ve got feelings and emotions too,” McDavid said.
The hit didn’t slow him down. McDavid finished with a goal and three assists, including this shorthanded goal in the second period, and extended his season-opening point streak to 17 games:
Through the streak, McDavid has 44 points (10 goals, 34 assists), and the 34 assists are more than any other player in the league has points. Teammate Leon Draisaitl is next with 31.
Edmonton hosts Vancouver on Saturday with the streak on the line.
