GENE'S BLOG: Must-See McDavid

It was four games in six days. Two in the evening and two in the afternoon. From the Motor City to the Boys on Broad Street to the nation's capital and finally a stop in La Belle Province.
A geographical breakdown of a road trip that took Edmonton to Detroit, Philadelphia, Ottawa and Montreal. The numbers at the end of it all will show two wins, a regulation loss and a shootout defear. Point total of five which was likely one or two less than the Oilers had hoped was possible. That's what happened in the standings, but my focus is what happened in the stands, the streets and the cities that housed the Oilers for the last week.
I must admit I kind of forgot what it's like to travel with the team. The unbelievable support they get wherever they go, especially when you hit hockey hotbeds both north and south of the border. It's also especially the case when Connor McDavid is leading the charge.
Taking things for granted is something we always say not to do, but that's usually the case when that's what you're doing. For the Oilers captain, the love affair seems to have no boundaries from state to province and country to country. People pay to see him play. They want to get a glimpse of the greatness.
It happened in each city where the conversation would inevitably turn to the captain. A chance, and a rare one at that, to see the NHL's highest-scoring and most exciting player all wrapped up into the person wearing number 97. There's an oil drop on the front and a McDavid name bar on the back.

If you live in Oil Country, you can see him on Sportsnet along with maybe an occasion or two in person. If you live in Eastern Canada, your opportunities might be one per year. In fact, with the pandemic, it's more like once in the last four seasons. Ottawa sold out a game with Connor and company in February 2019.
The following season the Oilers hadn't made a trip to the Senators arena before everything was shut down. Then the Canadian Division season with no fans. Then it was the 500-fan limit scenario before the building was wide open for business on the weekend. Not the first sellout of the season for Ottawa, but the easiest one. People will pay to see McDavid play. Period. End of sentence, but not the end of the story surrounding the team.
The Oilers have much more going for them than just the best player in the world. Imagine being the second-most productive Oiler even if you've already recorded 50 goals, won an Art Ross Trophy and a Hart Trophy. Such is life for Leon Draisaitl, but no complaints from his often linemate and travel mate.

Along with Leon, there are well-known, fan-favourite players like Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Zach Hyman, Evander Kane and Darnell Nurse. If it's not about what fans see in the present, it's been locked into their hearts and minds from what they saw in the past. Edmonton's fans travel well and pass on their passion through generations.
I met a grandfather, father and grandson who are all Oilers fans. It's a love generated by one but kept alive by others. Their reasons may be different, but their passion for the players and team are one in the same.
It's like a rock-and-roll show on ice. McDavid might be the lead singer, but he has some show-stopping band-mates as well.
This road trip was a reminder of how lucky we are to see what we see every day watching this team. It's no wonder with the past, present and future of the Oilers that they will continue to get, both at home and on the road, a fan-tastic reception.