[Coach]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

So, I am listening to the record from last night's cathartic 12-step meeting for demoralized and psychologically abused Oilers fans otherwise known as "Overtime Openline," because I missed it last night. (BTW, 630 CHED has an online audio vault, so you can listen to every hilarious second of every outrageously funny moment in the Oilers's season if you so wish.)

I am struck by something...

Connor McDavid is 6'1", 193 lbs, and he is about to turn 22-years-old. Oilers fans and media not only whine and complain about missed infractions supposedly committed on their golden lottery-ticket, they also seem to be of the opinion that every legal hit that must be endured by McDelicate is somehow simply unacceptable, and must be "answered for" by the opposing team.

What am I missing, here?

It's not like McDavid is consistently disadvantaged by a size-discrepancy like Mitchell Marner, or Johnny Gaudreau, or Clayton Keller, or Elias the-human-stick bug Pettersson. He's not a big player, but surely he is big enough and strong enough to survive the daily rigours of NHL hockey, no? Why is he such a dilettante?

He's spent his entire life on a different level. I doubt he ever got hit much in his younger leagues purely because few could keep up. This is the NHL. The determination and ability of his opponents is like nothing he's ever encountered. It's not a surprise he gets thrown off by physicality. In his head it's probably calculated as cheating every time. "Hey wait, that's not allowed is it? No one could do that to me before..."