The Erie Otters were lucky enough to be host to what scouts were calling a can’t miss project. Connor McDavid brings an element to the rink that few players in the world can, with speed, hands, and a hockey IQ that had every general manager in the NHL salivating over the thought of having him on their team. Hockey commentator Don Cherry saw the hype early and commented,”he’s one of those guys that comes along every 10 years.”
The 2015 NHL draft lottery was essentially to see who would be picking Connor McDavid first overall. That’s not to say there weren’t other solid choices on the board like Boston University’s Jack Eichel or another Erie Otter Dylan Strome, but every manager knew who they would be taking if they got the first pick. When the Edmonton Oilers were able to win the first pick in the draft, McDavid might as well have packed up his bags then and hopped on the first one way flight there.
McDavid joined a struggling Edmonton team who were still trying to make an identity for themselves. He joined other young stars Jordan Eberle, Taylor Hall, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. The young team finally got off to a decent start to their season at 6-6. McDavid had 12 points in 12 games. Than disaster struck for the young star. He was involved in a collision between two other Philadelphia players that sent him sliding into the boards, awkwardly on his shoulder. He got up slowly and went immediately into the locker room. He was later diagnosed with a broken clavicle that would keep him out for multiple months.
This injury is obviously a major setback to the teams ability to stay in playoff contention being in a tough western conference. Hopefully the team will be able to battle through the next few months, but until then the fans will be missing his nightly highlights.