Connor McDavid's comments about returning to Toronto are turning heads
Photo credit: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images
Connor McDavid is heading back to Scotiabank Arena, and the Edmonton Oilers captain made it clear the building never loses its magic for him.
Ahead of Saturday's matchup with the Toronto Maple Leafs, McDavid reflected on what a return to Toronto means to a player who grew up cheering for the home side. He said:
Doesn't matter how many times you come back here, it's always a special building to me. I was a Leafs fan growing up as a kid. Saturday night, too. Hockey Night in Canada.
Although I'm not sure we're allowed to say that anymore. But it'll always be Hockey Night in Canada to me.
Although I'm not sure we're allowed to say that anymore. But it'll always be Hockey Night in Canada to me.
A Hometown Star With Leafs Roots
The comments fit a familiar pattern. McDavid grew up in the Toronto area, and he has spoken before about how Saturday night broadcasts shaped his childhood.
For a kid in that part of Ontario, the Leafs were simply the team, and the weekly ritual of watching them left a lasting mark.
The playful aside about the name of the broadcast adds a light touch. Whatever branding the Saturday package carries today, McDavid is telling fans the tradition itself still means the same thing to him.
What Is at Stake Saturday
Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. ET, and the game once again puts the league's most dynamic player against the franchise he rooted for as a boy.
Leafs fans have long daydreamed about seeing him in blue and white, and every visit brings that conversation back to the surface.
For McDavid, though, the focus remains on the Oilers. His words were affectionate, but they came from a visiting captain who will want a win in this building for his team and for the family and friends likely in the stands.
Expect another loud night. Leafs supporters will cheer for their own team, yet many will also appreciate watching a player who still speaks about this rink and those Saturday night traditions with such sincerity. It is a storyline that never gets old for the Toronto faithful.
Also read on House Of Hockey :
Online report sparks Bruce Cassidy speculation involving a struggling Canadian NHL team
Online report sparks Bruce Cassidy speculation involving a struggling Canadian NHL team