BLOG: McDavid excited by off-season moves, Olympic opportunity

EDMONTON, AB - Entering his seventh professional season, it's unnecessary to question the motivation of Connor McDavid at this point. The proof is in the production.
The League's undisputed MVP ran away with the individual accolades in '20-21, posting a remarkable 105 points during a shortened 56-game schedule to add another Hart Memorial Trophy, Art Ross Trophy, and Ted Lindsay Award to his already-stocked trophy cabinet at only 24 years of age.
That personal success, however, won't prevent the captain from taking a little bit extra from a first-round playoff sweep by the Winnipeg Jets as just one piece of an Oilers collective looking to venture further into the Stanley Cup Playoffs this upcoming campaign.
"I'm certainly a guy that doesn't need much more motivation than what I've already got, but it certainly helps add to it," McDavid, speaking from the annual BioSteel pro hockey camp, said earlier this week to Sportsnet reporter Christine Simpson. "I think it should help add to our team. Even over the last two years, we've had better teams than we've shown in the playoffs. We're obviously looking to make it back to the playoffs, first and foremost, and go much deeper than we have."

The team assembled around the Oilers captain this off-season will, no doubt, be a much deeper squad.
President of Hockey Operations & General Manager Ken Holland's efforts to add more skill and leadership to the locker room, including veteran blueliner Duncan Keith, signalled to McDavid and the rest of the Oilers roster his intentions to reinforce its ranks for a deeper playoff push.
"He's a GM that's a Hall of Famer," McDavid said. "He's been doing this a long, long time and he does a great job of keeping us in the loop, but that doesn't mean he's looking to us for those type of things. Obviously, having a guy like Duncan Keith is great for our group. For him coming into the room, it's going to be great. Hopefully he can add to our culture."

McDavid has seen firsthand the ability of free-agent signing Zach Hyman this off-season, along with the potential of what they can accomplish together if paired on the same line.
"Zach's game is all about hard work, and I think he has more skill than people give him credit for," McDavid said of his new teammate. "I've been skating with him a little bit seeing how hard he works on the ice. It's contagious. I'm definitely excited about that addition."
"I'd certainly love to play with him and get that opportunity," he added, asked about Hyman possibly playing on his left wing. He's a guy that just makes everyone around him so much better. I think there's lots that he could do for my game, but I could do [a lot] for his game as well."
The off-season additions and overall buzz around the club are sending a message of intent to Oil Country on the upcoming campaign that begins later this month when players arrive back at Rogers Place for Training Camp.
"I'm certainly excited to get back," McDavid said. "Kenny (Holland's) made lots of moves and he's done his job. Now it's on players and the coaching staff to put the whole thing together and get back into the playoffs. Once you're there, who knows what could happen."
For a generational Canadian talent yet to compete at the Winter Olympics, the additional prospect of competing for a gold medal in Beijing this upcoming February is right up at the top as one of his highest ambitions, with an announcement on NHL participation expected in the coming days. McDavid has Under-18, Under-20 and World Championship gold medals to his name, but has yet to experience representing Canada at the Olympics during his seven professional seasons.
"I think for any Canadian kid growing up playing the game you want to play in the NHL, you want to win a Stanley Cup, and right there next on the list is representing your country at the Olympics and winning a gold medal," he said. "I'm certainly no different there. That would be a massive dream come true."