On an evening in which Edmonton Oilers centre Connor McDavid made his long-awaited return to the lineup, it seemed almost fitting that the rookie phenom and Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby were front and centre in Tuesday night’s NHL schedule. While the kid wearing No. 97 had an immediate impact in his first game back since breaking his collarbone against the Philadelphia Flyers in early November, No. 87 looked pretty darn good in putting together his most productive performance of the season in picking his ninth career hat-trick.
While it was likely a combination that Todd McLellan was hoping to try out well before game No. 51 on the Edmonton Oilers schedule, the tandem of Jordan Eberle and Connor McDavid will finally see the light day on Tuesday night against the Columbus Blue Jackets. After watching the duo of Taylor Hall and Leon Draisaitl carry this team for the better part of the past three months, the potential addition of a secondary scoring line could not have come at a better time for this group.
For a league that has lacked that so-called “sellable star attraction” for what feels like an eternity, one would think the NHL would be falling all over itself to try to push Montreal Canadiens defenceman P.K. Subban into the spotlight. Instead of using the talented blueliner’s infectious personality to help further grow the game and expand its worldwide reach, this league seems perfectly satisfied with keeping the status quo and ignoring “the gift” they have been handed.
With the NHL Trade Deadline inching closer with every passing day, it is no surprise that the rumour mill is starting to kick back into gear during this weekend’s All-Star Weekend festivities. At the top of that list, we have an oldie but goodie involving the Edmonton Oilers and New York Islanders. From the moment Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman broke the news of Travis Hamonic’s trade request back in mid-November, the two franchises have been linked as potential trade partners and it is easy to see why.
