Connor McDavid trying to avoid spotlight

EDMONTON -- Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid http://www.authenticrangersshop.com/authentic-26-martin-st-louis-je... had just completed his first preseason game as an NHL player. He performed just about how the player tabbed as the best prospect since Sidney Crosby should have performed. He had two assists. He was named the game's first star.

After the game, he was in front of his stall peeling off equipment. A media scrum quickly formed around a teammate a few stalls over. Nobody immediately went to McDavid.

There seemed to be some confusion on how the game's next superstar was going to be handled. Would he get his own scrum in the center of the room? Maybe he'd get news conference treatment like coach Todd McLellan's.

The answer came quickly.

Go talk to him. He's no different than Cam Neely Youth Jersey anyone else on the team.

Soon, a crowd surrounded McDavid, who softly but in short order answered every question he was asked.

Yeah, it was exciting and fun to get out there. Yes, it's going to take a while to get used to his linemates. McDavid seemed a bit embarrassed to have been named first star, and he quickly pointed out he didn't do much at the start of the game.

"It's a process," he said. "It takes time. I thought Lakers Shaquille O'Neal Jersey we did some good stuff and stuff we need to work on as well."

It was polite and understated, and the underlying message was that he wanted no more attention on his game than absolutely necessary.
That was a universal theme at the outset of Oilers camp. Mention McDavid in a media session with McLellan, and he's quick to point out McDavid is just one of many young players for whom he has high expectations. It's the same strategy from his teammates. Bring up McDavid's rare on-ice skill set, and they prefer to talk about how good a kid he is off the ice.

They've already become protective of him. They are http://www.authenticyankeesshop.com/authentic-22-jacoby-ellsbury-je... already trying to limit expectations of a player entering the NHL with more hype than anyone in a decade.