Nathan MacKinnon Has Very Blunt Response To Hype Around Playoff Showdown With Connor McDavid

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There’s no better way to sum up the truly dismal state the Edmonton Oilers found themselves in at the start of the 2010s than by taking a look at the teams that had the dubious honor of selecting the first overall pick in the NHL Draft, which the franchise “earned” the right to do four times in six seasons (including a trio it secured three years in a row).

It’s rare to see a team fall victim to the perfect storm of bad luck and front office incompetency that plagued Edmonton, which was seemingly incapable of taking advantage of a lottery system that’s specifically designed to give the league’s most pathetic teams a golden opportunity to reverse their fortunes.

Thankfully, the fourth time ended up being the charm for the Oilers, which finally found a savior in the form of Connor McDavid in 2015. Many people viewed the highly-touted center as a generational prospect, and while there were some concerns the teenager who was dubbed “McJesus” might not be able to live up to the lofty expectations surrounding him, he was able to surpass them while quickly establishing himself as one of the most electric players in the league.

The man who now captains the once-rudderless ship is currently the favorite to win the Hart Trophy for the third time in the seven NHL seasons he’s played. However, it’s safe to assume he’s much more concerned with another piece of hardware the Oilers are eyeing as they gear up for their Stanley Cup Playoffs showdown against the Avalanche in the Western Conference Finals.

The Oilers didn’t have much trouble dispatching the Flames in the Battle of Alberta, but they’ll face their toughest challenge yet in the form of a top-seeded Colorado team that’s favored to hoist the Stanley Cup (and has been for the bulk of the season) thanks in no small part to the efforts of Nathan MacKinnon.

No storyline has come close to rivaling the “MacKinnon vs. McDavid” matchup fans have been rooting for since the playoff bracket was firmed up, and we should be in for one hell of a treat over the course of a series featuring the two former No. 1 picks going head-to-head with a spot in the Finals on the line.

However, there’s at least one person who doesn’t seem too excited about the showdown: Nathan MacKinnon.

During a press conference, the center acknowledged the hype surrounding his clash with McDavid (who he said he considers the most talented player in the NHL) but made it very clear he’s not particularly concerned about the individual rivalry.

I think it’s safe to say he’s in the minority when it comes to this particular topic.