"It’s a Play that Is a Little Sensitive to Me": Connor McDavid Gets Horrid Flashbacks of Past Injuries After "Dangerous" Drew Helleson Hit
Fans criticized Connor McDavid after he called the first-period collision dangerous, while others said the contact was routine for a player who attacks the crease.
- On Thursday, November 5, 2026, Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid was hit while driving to the net against the Anaheim Ducks, prompting Vasily Podkolzin to fight Drew Helleson and receive a game misconduct for a "one-man fight."
- McDavid's reaction stems from past severe injuries; he was reminded of a 2019 crash involving Calgary Flames defenseman Mark Giordano and an earlier rookie-season incident with Philadelphia Flyers player Brandon Manning.
- Fans reacted swiftly, with many arguing the contact was routine for a player who regularly attacks the crease. One user wrote that McDavid "cuts hard to the net with reckless abandon nearly every game," suggesting physical contact was inevitable.
- Critics called the star "whiny" and suggested he "would not have survived 90s hockey," while others referenced hard-hitting defensemen like Scott Stevens to argue the league's best player is not immune to physical play.
- McDavid rarely faces such criticism despite being regarded as the sport's most electrifying talent, making this backlash unusual for a player accustomed to widespread admiration across rival fanbases.
22 Articles
22 Articles
McDavid’s Postgame Comments Have Fans Turning on the Superstar
Connor McDavid is facing a wave of criticism online after his postgame comments about a collision in the first period of Edmonton’s game against the Anaheim Ducks. McDavid was hit while driving hard to the net early in the game, a play that led to Vasily Podkolzin laying a beatdown on Drew Helleson and getting […]
"It’s a play that is a little sensitive to me": Connor McDavid gets horrid flashbacks of past injuries after "dangerous" Drew Helleson hit
Last night's hit from Drew Helleson brought back horrid flashbacks to Connor McDavid who first got a taste of NHL physicality in his rookie season in 2015-16 when Flyers' Michael Del Zotto and Brandon
Connor McDavid Says "I've Got Feelings And Emotions Too" After Heated Drew Helleson Incident
Connor McDavid called Drew Helleson’s contact dangerous after a collision near the net during the Oilers’ loss to the Anaheim Ducks. McDavid also praised Vasily Podkolzin for responding to the incident and explained why such plays concern him.
Connor McDavid, 29, notes that he has been seriously injured before. Last night it almost happened again. – This is something that affects me personally because situations like this have hurt me really, really badly, he tells Sportsnet.
Edmonton Oilers dodge McDavid injury but not Anaheim Ducks Power Play: Cult of Hockey Player Grades
The Edmonton Oilers suffered a 5-2 home defeat Thursday, on a night when a greasy play on Connor McDavid resulted in fisticuffs and a generally chippy evening against Anaheim.
Connor McDavid was furious too.
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