Connor McDavid Blasts NHL Ahead of Hockey Night in Canada Showdown vs. Maple Leafs
Edmonton Oilers superstar Connor McDavid put the NHL on blast after their decision to schedule their game against the Maple Leafs at an odd time.
As the Toronto Maple Leafs head into their first of a four game road trip before the 4 Nations Face-Off break, they'll make a stop in Edmonton to take on Connor McDavid and the Oilers.
With an adjusted time to play the Maple Leafs, the superstar was a bit miffed at the NHL's decision to change the game time to fit their biggest franchise:
The Time Adjustment For Toronto and Edmonton Game Is Purely Business
With the NHL giving the Maple Leafs a bit of a push up on the timetable front, it's more about getting extra eyes on the game. Toronto is the NHL's most profitable franchise, and a primetime matchup between two of the League's best players, especially with how heated things may get; it's all about the money.
There's a reason the NHL is raising the salary cap to north of $110M by the time 2027-28 rolls around, and their record boost in profit has a lot to do with how they make sure as many people watch as possible.
While it doesn't have the same aura as it once did, Hockey Night in Canada is still a staple of many households, and there are always eyes glued to the screen. Keeping these fans around by giving them a consistent time for them to watch ensures a steady stream of viewers.
Puzzlingly, McDavid also reiterated that he prefers the earlier start time stating simply:
McDavid has been the center of a bit of controversy already this season, after he was suspended three games for cross-checking Vancouver's Conor Garland, and felt a lot of backlash after the Oilers put out a less than stellar statement on the matter.
This season, McDavid has been his usual self, with 21 goals and 46 assists in 45 games, pushing his career totals thus far to an astounding 1,049 points in 690 games.
While it is a bit odd to see Toronto playing a West game at 7pm ET, there's no doubt that there will be much more eyes on the game, which means more money.
That should be music to McDavid's ears as he's looking to cash in just in time for the huge salary cap jump and it wouldn't happen without this type of scheduling.
