McDavid says a best-on-best tournament is desperately needed
Upon their return from the holiday break, Edmonton Oilers players met with the media, and captain Connor McDavid was asked about his thoughts regarding the NHL's decision to not participate in the 2022 Winter Olympics.
"The whole thing is so disappointing. It's hard to really put into words what a lot of guys are feeling, especially guys who have never gotten to go before and now we're missing it for the second time in a row. Obviously we can't dwell on it and we have to hope for. Maybe, they pushed the Summer Olympics back one year, maybe that happens again this year, obviously it's not looking that way. I think we do need to find a way to get a best-on-best tournament done at some point here," McDavid said.
He added, "We can't go six, seven, eight years without playing best-on-best. I'd like to see maybe something worked out, if the Olympics don't get pushed. We can't dwell on it, it's upsetting, there's not much else to say other than that."
As McDavid mentions, this will now be the second straight Olympics that he hasn't been able to participate and unless the 2022 Olympics get pushed back a year due to COVID concerns, then we won't be seeing him or any NHLers until 2026 in Italy.
The 24-year-old has represented Canada at the senior men's level only twice, at a pair of World Championships, but despite that being one of the premier events for the IIHF, that isn't considered a best-on-best tournament.
McDavid's only appearance at a best-on-best tournament was at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, but he didn't even get to represent his own country at that event, he was stuck playing for the U23 Team North America.
I think many players around the league and fans can resonate with McDavid when it comes to not going to Beijing and wanting to have a best-on-best event in the near future.
McDavid spoke for the first time since the NHL & NHLPA decided NHL players will not be attending the #Beijing2022 Olympics.
"The whole thing is so disappointing... I think we do need to find a way to get a best-on-best tournament done at some point here."
Full answer here: pic.twitter.com/rMyx9A3gBH— Tony Brar (@TonyBrarOTV) December 27, 2021
