SAN JOSE — Connor McDavid tried to keep his focus Thursday on enjoying the 2019 Honda NHL All-Star Weekend with Edmonton Oilers teammate Leon Draisaitl and preparing for a push to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs, rather than on the firing of president of hockey operations and general manager Peter Chiarelli two days earlier.
McDavid declined to comment on Chiarelli’s firing during the NHL All-Star Game Media Day presented by adidas, saying, “We’re here for the All-Star Game. I want to enjoy that as much as I can.” But the Oilers captain’s message was clear about his plans after he’s done playing in the 2019 Honda NHL All-Star Game at SAP Center on Saturday (8 p.m. ET; NBC, SN, CBC, TVAS) and the Oilers complete their mandatory five-day break. Edmonton resumes play at the Philadelphia Flyers on Feb. 2 (1 p.m. ET; NHLN, SN, NBCSP, NHL.TV).
“What I look forward to coming back from the break is trying our best to prove everyone wrong,” the fourth-year center said. “We have an opportunity here where things seem pretty down on us. There’s a sense of negativity with the media, with everyone around the team, and we get to prove people wrong. We get to decide how we’re going to finish the second half.”
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The Oilers (23-24-2) lost their last three games before the All-Star break and are 6-12-1 since Dec. 13. But despite being seventh in the Pacific Division with 49 points, they are three points behind the Colorado Avalanche for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Western Conference.
“I think that gets lost,” McDavid said. “I think that really is lost. We’re going through a lot of different changes [and] we’re three points out. We have a chance to make the playoffs.”
This has been a season of changes in Edmonton, with coach Todd McLellan being fired on Nov. 20 and replaced by Ken Hitchcock, and Chiarelli being fired two months later. Oilers Entertainment Group CEO and vice chair Bob Nicholson will oversee hockey operations and the search for a new general manager.
“Obviously [it’s] a tough time when stuff like that happens,” Draisaitl said. “We have to take some ownership as players. We haven’t been good enough. We have to figure out a way to get this team into playing the right way.”
McDavid stressed again that he believes the Oilers can turn their season around in the final 32 games.
“You’ve got to believe,” the 22-year-old said. “You have to believe that we’re going to turn it around and, like I said the other day, if you don’t, you don’t have to be here. … Obviously, losing isn’t fun. It’s not fun for anybody. I’m no different. You want to win and you want to build something special and something that you’re proud to be a part of, and we’ve got to still build it.”
McDavid quickly dismissed the suggestion that he’s been worn down by the Oilers struggles and he might eventually reach a point where he’d like to play elsewhere.
“That’s just not the case at all,” McDavid said. “I’m here to be a part of the solution, and that’s all I’ll say.”
McDavid, the two-time defending NHL scoring champion, is tied with Johnny Gaudreau of the Calgary Flames for third in the League with 73 points (29 goals, 44 assists). He will make his third All-Star Game appearance after being voted by fans as captain of the Pacific Division team. Draisaitl, 23, will make his All-Star Game debut after being awarded the final spot on the Pacific Division roster in the 2019 NHL All-Star Last Men In presented by adidas fan vote.
“I think it’s a good break to get our minds off it and refocus and get back to maybe enjoying ourselves a little bit and take our minds off [the Oilers’ struggles],” Draisaitl said. “Then it’s back to work and go back and win hockey games, and at the end of the day no one cares how we do it.”
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