Nine years after meeting Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews during the Stanley Cup Final in Chicago, Connor McDavid got to pay it forward Monday in in the series.
McDavid visited with Macklin Celebrini, the in the 2024 NHL draft, and other top prospects after the Edmonton Oilers鈥� morning skate in preparation for against the Florida Panthers.
鈥淪eem like some great kids,鈥� McDavid said. 鈥淭hey said they had fun at the combine, which we were surprised at. But yeah, it鈥檚 an exciting time for them.鈥�
McDavid and Celebrini met before, at a summer hockey camp last year and at a game in Edmonton. Celebrini, the Vancouver native, was in attendance for the Oilers鈥� Game 7 victory against his hometown Canucks earlier in the playoffs.
Hoping McDavid didn鈥檛 see him cheering against him that night, Celebrini appreciated another chance to chat with the three-time league MVP, whose position he鈥檇 love to be in someday.
鈥淚t was awesome to talk to him, especially on a big gameday,鈥� said Celebrini, who figures to have his name called by the San Jose Sharks to kick off the draft at the Sphere in Las Vegas on June 28. 鈥淗opefully in the future I鈥檓 playing in the Stanley Cup Final, so I really hope so.鈥�
Celebrini was joined by Cayden Lindstrom, Artyom Levshunov and Zeev Buium, who are also expected to be taken among the first several picks. As for advice, McDavid 鈥� taken first by the Oilers in the 2015 draft coincidentally held at the Panthers鈥� arena 鈥� kept it simple.
鈥淚t doesn鈥檛 really matter where you鈥檙e picked,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hose kids will all be in the top five. But it doesn鈥檛 really matter where you鈥檙e drafted. That鈥檚 just the start.
Oilers changes
Edmonton coach Kris Knoblauch expected to tinker with his lineup throughout the Cup final. His big change for Game 2 was the bold move of scratching defenseman Cody Ceci, who was on the ice and most culpable for Florida鈥檚 two goals scored on Stuart Skinner in the series opener.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not easy,鈥� Knoblauch said. 鈥淵ou have a player that鈥檚 been a big part of our team and has played very well, and we鈥檝e had those difficult decisions with other players throughout the playoffs. We鈥檙e in it for the best for our team, and we feel that this is something that鈥檚 going to help our team.鈥�
Vincent Desharnais took Ceci鈥檚 spot Monday and played well in his nearly 16 minutes of ice time in .
鈥淰inny has played very well for us this year, whether it鈥檚 been through the playoffs or regular season,鈥� Knoblauch said. 鈥淲e have a lot of confidence in him. He can move the puck out, he鈥檚 a big defender. We鈥檝e inserted some new bodies, new life into lineup throughout the playoffs and it鈥檚 paid off.鈥�
Corey Perry was also scratched, with Sam Carrick making his series debut.
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