Two of the game's best skating together in preparation for the 2020-21 season
Putting rivalries to the side, Edmonton Oilers forward Connor McDavid joined Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews in Arizona earlier this month to prepare for the 2020-21 season.
Since the two have begun practicing with drills run by former Arizona Coyote Shane Doan, many other top players around the world have become interested. Others now participating in the skates are Jake Bean, Anthony Duclair, Matt Dumba, Alex Galchenyuk, and several Coyotes. Doan realized they needed a goaltender and was able to bring in former NHL netminder Peter Budaj, who lives near the area.
Budaj, who had previously skated just once in the last 15 months, is extremely impressed with how much both McDavid and Matthews strive to be the best each and every day. He admitted he has considered pulling his son from classes for a day to watch them.
“I wanted him to see how hard (Matthews and McDavid) work,” Budaj said. “They do the drills really, really hard. There's some college kids who skate with us too, and Connor's backchecking. The work ethic of the superstars resonates with me. They are on top of the food chain in hockey, they're trying to improve their game. They take it seriously.”
Doan, who played in 1540 career NHL games, is also extremely impressed by both players.
“They're both hockey nerds and I love it,” Doan said. “You want the guys that are the best to love the game as much as those two do.”
Of course, two of the game's best young superstars are also amazed watching the other, and were both complimentary of each other.
“The respect goes back for so long,” Matthews said about McDavid. “Connor's hockey IQ, speed and edges are so impressive – to say the least – and his vision at the speed he moves obviously stands out, yet it really is the whole package with him.”
McDavid was quick to praise Matthews as well.
“When you watch his game, his shot is the first thing you notice. But, spending more time together, I've noticed just how smooth he is on the ice. It's very impressive.”
It goes without saying these two are both extremely talented individuals. The 23-year-old McDavid, who has 469 points in 351 career games, is considered by many to be the best player in the entire world. Meanwhile Matthews, also 23, is arguably the league's best goal scorer aside from Alex Ovechkin. You can count on both being ready to go for the 2020-21 season.
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YESTERDAY
JUNE 6, 2026
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| G | A | PTS | ||
| Mitch Marner | 3 | 1 | 4 | |
| Tomas Hertl | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Jordan Staal | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Shea Theodore | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Sebastian Aho | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Brayden McNabb | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Taylor Hall | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Jordan Martinook | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Andrei Svechnikov | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Jackson Blake | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Jack Eichel | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Brett Howden | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Seth Jarvis | - | 1 | 1 | |
| William Karlsson | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Eric Robinson | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Jaccob Slavin | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Logan Stankoven | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Frederik Andersen | - | - | - | |
| Rasmus Andersson | - | - | - | |
| Ivan Barbashev | - | - | - | |
| COMPLETE STATS | ||||