Connor McDavid Confronts Critics Over Tough, Likely Unfair Label

Connor McDavid, the Edmonton Oilers captain, often faces criticism for being “boring” or lacking personality. Despite being one of the most skilled players in the NHL, his reserved demeanor off the ice has led to misconceptions about his character. He’s often mislabeled. In the new Amazon documentary series premiering on October 4th, McDavid addresses how the media and fans often see him, saying “It’s tough.”

Perhaps that’s one of the reasons he let Amazon have the access they did and share the footage that has gone viral on social media over the past 24 hours. One might wonder why McDavid would let that kind of emotion that typically only gets shared with teammates backstage be shared with the world. Maybe it’s time people see him a little differently.

The series will show a side of McDavid that few, if anyone in the public know about.

The Amazon Series Shows A Completely Different Side of McDavid

In Episodes 5 and 6 — which the media got an advance screener of this week –, McDavid opens up about the emotional toll of coming up short in his first Stanley Cup Final appearance. One scene shows him breaking down in the locker room following a heartbreaking Game 7 loss.

“There was a lot of pain in that room,” McDavid says, reflecting on the moment. “You’ve just gone through months of grinding, working; all these ups and downs, peaks and valleys.”

This all came after Game 2’s explosion in the locker room, which almost every Oilers fan has now seen, and many hockey fans worldwide are shocked by.

McDavid acknowledges that being in the public eye isn’t easy for him. “I would definitely say that I am an introvert,” he admits, adding that dealing with media and fan scrutiny can cause stress and anxiety.

Connor McDavid Is Not a Boring Robot

“I get called boring, I get called a robot. It’s tough, it’s challenging,” McDavid admits. While media obligations come with the territory, the rink remains where he feels most at ease. “The ice has always been my happy place,” he explains.

Sure, McDavid might not be the goofiest of NHL players. He might not even smile as much as the next guy. But, he is passionate. And, this docuseries will show that. You won’t be able to watch this and leave thinking anything but that McDavid is driven and so badly wants to win the Stanley Cup that he’ll go to the ends of the earth to do it.

Next: Did the Oilers Miss An Opportunity to Bring Back Tyson Barrie?