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Connor McDavid tries to save face after controversial comments on Jon Cooper


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Aaron Itovitch
March 23, 2026  (2:46 PM)
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Edmonton Oilers forward Connor McDavid (97) carries the puck past Tampa Bay Lightning forward Pontus Holmberg (29) during the third period at Rogers Place.
Photo credit: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images

Connor McDavid and head coach Kris Knoblauch are focused on winning, not media drama. The captain made that clear today.

The locker room noise reached a boiling point this weekend.
Comments made by McDavid regarding Jon Cooper and Leon Draisaitl before the Olympics were heavily scrutinized. Fans thought there was a rift.
McDavid firmly shut down that narrative this afternoon.
«We're not taking shots. It's just everybody can be better myself included. Everybody can be better. It was more just complementary of a great team in this league that came in and played a good game. Nothing more than that.

Not sure how it was taken that way it wasn't supposed to be that way. But I understand obviously, I understand how people could look at it that way, but it's not what I was intending to do at all.»
He emphasized that everyone in the lineup needs to be better, himself included.
The initial quotes were taken entirely out of context by the public.

Connor McDavid Clearing the Air

He was simply offering praise to a great team that executed a solid game plan against them.
Nothing more, nothing less.
He understands the confusion but stands by his original intent.
The media cycle loves a good controversy, but this one was manufactured.
The team needs to ignore the outside chatter and focus on the puck drop.
They have a playoff push to worry about.
POLL
MARS 23|177 ANSWERS
Connor McDavid tries to save face after controversial comments on Jon Cooper

Was the media blowing McDavid's comments out of proportion?

Yes13174 %
No4626 %
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