Oilers coach reveals why Connor McDavid never had ‘jealous’ teammates

He noted that even when praise comes his way, the forward often shifts attention toward teammates. “I think he’s done a tremendous job at doing that because there’s a lot of pressure on him being his best and being a good teammate,” Knoblauch said. “And one thing I’ve learned about Connor is he’s always very cognizant of his teammates, giving praise, and often when he’s getting the praise and maybe his teammates are ignored, he’s almost embarrassed to get that praise and that’s why he’s such a great teammate and guys have looked up to him right away and I coached him.

” That approach has helped him earn respect across the roster. MORE: Connor McDavid impressed by Oilers’ defensive depth amid playoff push The Oilers coach also reflected on coaching McDavid during his teenage years. He recalled how the young star stood out immediately but never allowed ego to affect team chemistry.

According to Knoblauch, McDavid’s awareness of others made him a natural leader early in his career. “I came in mid-season when he was 15, and he was already the best player on the team,” Knoblauch said. “He was 15, playing with 19 and 20-year-olds and, you know, I thought it was going to be a difficult situation but after knowing the personality of Connor and the makeup of him, I was just surprised at how much respect his teammates had for him.

“And I thought they’d be a little envious of him, a little jealous of the success and the attention that he’s getting, but he’s such a good teammate. He looks out for the other guys, so you can understand why his teammates had so much respect for him. ” McDavid’s impact goes beyond scoring, even though his numbers remain elite.