Connor McDavid may be the biggest name on the ice in Muskoka, but this time the focus was on what he’s like when the skates come off.
Brady Leavold, a mental health advocate in the hockey space and a skills coach with Muskoka, posted a photo with the Edmonton Oilers captain on Instagram and used the moment to praise McDavid’s demeanor away from the rink. In his message, Leavold called the week special and said it was something he would never forget.
“It’s one thing to be the best hockey player in the world and truly world class at your craft. It’s another thing to carry everything that comes with being Connor McDavid and still have the humility to give people your time, make them feel valued and just be a genuinely good human being.
That’s what stood out to me most this week.
We all see the player. The talent, the work ethic and everything he does on the ice speaks for itself. But getting the opportunity to spend some time around Davo and see the person behind all of it meant more to me than I can probably put into words.
I’ll cherish the signed stick, but even more than that, I’ll remember how he treated me and everyone around him.
Hockey has taken me on one hell of a journey, and there were years where I never could have imagined being in moments like this again. I don’t take any of it for granted.
Just incredibly grateful. For the week, for the memories, and for the people this game continues to bring into my life.
Thank you Davo. Best of luck this season.”
McDavid is usually judged by what he does on the ice, where the praise is easy and the criticism can be brutal. Fans marvel at his talent and work ethic, but the other conversation that follows him is the one about what he hasn’t done yet: captain the Oilers to the Stanley Cup.
That debate often spills into questions about leadership, though leadership is one of the most subjective labels in sports. Most people only see the public version of McDavid, or the clipped moments that make it to camera.
One of those came in Amazon’s behind-the-scenes look at the Oilers’ run to the 2024 Stanley Cup Final, when McDavid was shown snapping at teammates as Florida dominated the game. The clip drew plenty of attention and set off a fresh argument online about whether that was the kind of leadership fans wanted to see.
Leavold’s view points in a different direction. He described McDavid’s humility and the way he handles himself around others as the real marker, offering a look at the person behind the superstar. It’s the kind of account that helps explain why the Oilers made him captain and why teammates continue to speak so highly of him in that role.
With August winding down, the Muskoka skates are set to finish up and McDavid’s offseason work in Edmonton will soon be back on the calendar. That means the Oilers captain is about to step into another season with the spotlight squarely on him as he prepares for his 12th NHL campaign.
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