Connor McDavid Is Throwing Hits Now - And It’s Working for Team Canada
We’ve seen Connor McDavid do a lot of things on the ice - blow past defenders like they’re standing still, thread impossible passes through traffic, and rack up points at a pace that makes the scoreboard blush. But what we’re seeing at these Olympics?
That’s something new. Something a little unexpected.
McDavid, the NHL’s ultimate finesse player, is playing with an edge - and not just the metaphorical kind.
It started in Canada’s opener against Czechia. McDavid didn’t just set the tone with a goal or a slick assist - he did it with a hit.
A real one. Not a bump, not a glancing shove.
A full-on, deliberate body check. The kind that makes you sit up and say, “Wait… was that McDavid?”
Because let’s be honest - physicality has never been a headline in McDavid’s game. In Edmonton, he’s the guy you protect, not the guy throwing himself into the muck.
He’s the one dancing around contact, not initiating it. And that’s by design.
When you’ve got a generational talent, you don’t ask him to take crosschecks in front of the net or go digging in the corners. You let him do what he does best: create offense and take over games.
But this tournament? Different story.
McDavid’s playing with a new kind of fire - and he’s got the perfect insurance policy on his line to back it up. Enter Tom Wilson.
Wilson’s presence changes the calculus. When one of the NHL’s most feared enforcers is skating beside you, suddenly the idea of initiating contact doesn’t seem quite as risky.
If anyone even thinks about retaliating, Wilson’s right there, ready to answer the bell. And that kind of protection gives McDavid the freedom to play with a little more bite.
This isn’t about McDavid trying to be something he’s not. He’s not turning into a grinder or reinventing himself as a power forward.
But in a short, high-stakes tournament like the Olympics - where every shift matters and there’s no time to ease into games - adding a physical element to his toolkit sends a message. To the other team.
To his teammates. To everyone watching.
It says: We’re all in. Even the stars are getting their hands dirty.
And here’s the kicker - the physical play hasn’t slowed down his production one bit. McDavid’s been in on 60% of Team Canada’s goals so far.
That’s not just good - that’s classic McDavid. He’s still doing the things that make him the most dangerous player on the planet.
He’s just doing them while also throwing the occasional hit and setting the tone in more ways than one.
That new-look top line of McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon, and Macklin Celebrini? It’s electric.
The chemistry is real, the pace is relentless, and they’re overwhelming teams with a blend of skill, speed, and now, a little grit. It’s the kind of line that gives opposing coaches headaches and makes fans wonder if we’re watching the birth of something special.
Of course, this version of McDavid - the one dishing out hits and playing with a little snarl - probably isn’t built for the long haul of an 82-game NHL season. The Oilers need him healthy, not banged up from nightly battles along the boards.
But in a two-week sprint for gold, where intensity is sky-high and every game has playoff weight? It works.
And it’s working for Canada. They’re winning.
McDavid’s producing. And yes, he’s throwing hits.
So the question isn’t whether he’s capable of this - clearly, he is. The question is whether we’ll see it again outside of the Olympic stage.
Maybe not. But for now, it’s another reminder of just how complete a player McDavid can be when the moment calls for it.
And if you didn’t see this coming? You’re not alone. But it’s here, and it’s helping Canada roll.