Connor McDavid has cultivated a very particular public-facing persona since entering the National Hockey League eight seasons ago.
Calm. Collected. Even keeled. While undoubtedly passionate on the ice, rarely, if ever, has the NHL’s preeminent superstar’s flashy hands and blazing speed been matched by an equally eye-catch quote or outburst off of it.
That’s what made McDavid’s Thursday night comments, following a negated overtime winner that would have capped off one of Edmonton’s gutsiest wins of the year, so surprising.
“The league’s got to clarify some of these rules,” he said. “What’s a kick? What’s offside? What’s goalie interference? It depends on the night I guess.”
Those words don’t leave much to the imagination. Clearly disgruntled, McDavid let it be known that his initial reaction to the way things transpired at Rogers Arena on Thursday night was baffling.
Almost immediately, the Oilers captain pointed to another goal, similar in build-up, but wildly different in outcomes, wondering out loud why Cale Makar’s game one playoff goal against Edmonton six months ago was ruled any differently to his blueline entry.
Others, similarly, drew conclusions in the same vein as McDavid. The Oilers broadcast called the review “Cale Makar-ish”, Oilers coach Jay Woodcroft began his postgame press conference by referencing last year’s conference final, while the Avalanche defender’s name trended on Twitter almost immediately.
But the two cases are entirely different in nature.
Exploring both goals with a fine-toothed comb, it’s quite clear exactly what differentiates both of these markers. And, in fact, both cases show how the NHL has been consistent with its ruling on offsides in recent years through one notable aspect that is similar between the two.
Possession
The name of the game, as they say, is possession of the puck.
On both of these controversial calls, it’s the fact that neither has possession, at least in accordance with the NHL’s rules, that serves as the decisive factor.
McDavid, attacking St. Louis Blues centreman Ryan O’Reilly with a full head of steam, makes a patented cut to the middle of the ice in a move that’s basically a staple of every McDavid highlight reel goal.
The Blues perennial Selke contender, however, earns his pay cheque on this one, using an active stick to force the puck off of McDavid’s blade. While McDavid earns the zone, he doesn’t quite do so cleanly. His and O’Reilly’s sticks collide, allowing the puck to slide ever so slightly ahead before McDavid re-engages and gathers control deeper into the St. Louis zone.
A release from the NHL’s public relations department highlights exactly this, and why the goal is ultimately determined not to count.
“Edmonton’s Connor McDavid preceded the puck into the offensive zone without possession and control and, therefore, was in an off-side position prior to Leon Draisaitl’s goal” the statement reads.
So, despite his best efforts, the ruling is that McDavid doesn’t have possession, losing it if ever so briefly after O’Reilly’s challenge at the blueline.
Notably, however, that isn’t the only significant wording in the statement. What about the first few words of the NHL release, how McDavid ‘preceded the puck into the offensive zone?’ Valeri Nichushkin was well ahead of Makar on the defenceman’s game one snipe, which is the whole reason we find ourselves in this mess in the first place.
Offside position
Makar’s goal, controversial as it may be, was nothing short of electric. Arguably the league’s most dynamic offensive defenceman since Bobby Orr, Makar strips Evander Kane in the neutral zone, skates headlong into Edmonton territory, and rips a laser beam bar-down on Mike Smith.
As Makar was preparing to enter the offensive zone, though, Nichushkin was racing to exit and clear it. When Makar hits the blue line he pushes the puck ahead and it crosses without directly contacting his stick. This allowed Nichushkin to exit in time. Makar doesn’t touch the puck (control it) until the previously offside Nichushkin clears, so he enters the zone legally.
It was a delayed offside until Nichushkin got out. And once he cleared, Makar was safe to play the puck on.
As it turns out, the same puck control detail that kills Draisaitl’s goal is the clever minutiae that gives Makar his.
McDavid, for all his game-breaking speed, ultimately has both his skates in the offensive zone before the puck enters and prior to regaining full possession. Therefore, he put himself offside. Makar, on the other hand, doesn’t himself enter the zone before the puck, and he doesn’t regain full possession of it until Nichushkin is back onside.
Where is the consistency?
Maybe McDavid is correct that parts of the NHL rulebook could be defined a little more clearly. He does call out the league over other matters like goalie interference and what a distinct kicking motion is.
For offside reviews like this, though, it turns out the league is actually pretty good when it comes to consistency.
Following Makar’s goal last May, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman put together the bible of understanding the offside rule in this context, and through multiple examples, it was clear that as long as the puck wasn’t in possession — in this case meaning the puck is on the attacking player’s stick — the play was ruled onside.
Unfortunately for McDavid, that just isn’t the case here. While a valiant effort, McDavid’s heroics are simply negated by a strong defensive play and a poorly timed entry, wiping away a game-winner and allowing St. Louis to complete their comeback in a tightly contested shootout.
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — The Miami Dolphins will bring in another quarterback while starter Tua Tagovailoa deals with his latest concussion, coach Mike McDaniel said Friday.
For now, Skylar Thompson will be considered the Dolphins’ starter while Tagovailoa is sidelined. Tagovailoa left Thursday night’s 31-10 loss to Buffalo in the third quarter with the third known concussion of his NFL career, all of them coming in the last 24 months.
“The team and the organization are very confident in Skylar,” McDaniel said.
McDaniel said the team has not made any decision about whether to place Tagovailoa on injured reserve. Tagovailoa was expected at the team facility on Friday to start the process of being evaluated in earnest.
“We just have to operate in the unknown and be prepared for every situation,” McDaniel said, noting that the only opinions that will matter to the team will be the ones from Tagovailoa and the medical staff.
McDaniel added that he doesn’t see Tagovailoa playing in Miami’s next game at Seattle on Sept. 22.
“I have no idea and I’m not going to all of a sudden start making decisions that I don’t even see myself involved in the most important parts of,” McDaniel added. “All I’m telling Tua is everyone is counting on you to be a dad and be a dad this weekend. And then we’ll move from there. There won’t be any talk about where we’re going in that regard … none of that will happen without doctors’ expertise and the actual player.”
Tagovailoa was 17 for 25 passing for 145 yards, with one touchdown and three interceptions — one of which was returned for a Buffalo score — when he got hurt. Thompson completed eight of 14 passes for 80 yards.
Thompson said he feels “fully equipped” to run the Dolphins’ offense.
“What’s going to lie ahead, who knows, but man, I’m confident, though,” Thompson said after Thursday’s game. “I feel like I’m ready for whatever’s to come. I’m going to prepare and work hard and do everything I can to lead this team and do my job.”
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa sustained a concussion for the third time in his NFL career, leaving his team’s game Thursday night against Buffalo after running into defensive back Damar Hamlin and hitting the back of his head against the turf.
Tagovailoa remained down for about two minutes before getting to his feet and walking to the sideline after the play in the third quarter. He made his way to the tunnel not long afterward, looking into the stands before smiling and departing toward the locker room.
The Dolphins needed almost no time before announcing it was a concussion. The team said he had two during the 2022 season, and Tagovailoa was diagnosed with another concussion when he was a college player at Alabama.
Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said Tagovailoa would get “proper procedural evaluation” and “appropriate care” on Friday.
“The furthest thing from my mind is, ‘What is the timeline?’ We just need to evaluate and just worry about my teammate, like the rest of the guys are,” McDaniel said. “We’ll get more information tomorrow and take it day by day from here.”
Some players saw Tagovailoa in the locker room after the game and said they were encouraged. Tagovailoa spoke with some players and then went home after the game, McDaniel said.
“I have a lot of love for Tua, built a great relationship with him,” said quarterback Skylar Thompson, who replaced Tagovailoa after the injury. “You care about the person more than the player and everybody in the organization would say the same thing. Just really praying for Tua and hopefully everything will come out all right.”
Tagovailoa signed a four-year, $212 million extension before this season — a deal that makes him one of the highest-paid players in the NFL — and was the NFL’s leading passer in Week 1 this season. Tagovailoa left with the Dolphins trailing 31-10, and that was the final score.
“If you know Tua outside of football, you can’t help but feel for him,” Bills quarterback Josh Allen said on Amazon following the game. “He’s a great football player but he’s an even greater human being. He’s one of the best humans on the planet. I’ve got a lot of love for him and I’m just praying for him and his family, hoping everything’s OK. But it’s tough, man. This game of football that we play, it’s got its highs and it’s got its lows — and this is one of the lows.”
Tagovailoa’s college years and first three NFL seasons were marred by injury, though he positioned himself for a big pay bump with an injury-free and productive 2023 as he led the Dolphins into the playoffs. He threw for 29 touchdowns and a league-best 4,624 yards last year.
When, or if, he can come back this season is anyone’s guess. Tagovailoa said in April 2023 that the concussions he had in the 2022 season left him contemplating his playing future. “I think I considered it for a time,” he said then, when asked if he considered stepping away from the game to protect himself.
McDaniel said it’s not his place to say if Tagovailoa should return to football. “He’ll be evaluated and we’ll have conversations and progress as appropriate,” McDaniel said.
Tagovailoa was hurt Thursday on a fourth-down keeper with about 4:30 left in the third. He went straight ahead into Hamlin and did not slide, leading with his right shoulder instead.
Hamlin was the player who suffered a cardiac arrest after making a tackle during a Monday night game in January 2023 at Cincinnati, causing the NFL to suspend a pivotal game that quickly lost significance in the aftermath of a scary scene that unfolded in front of a national television audience.
Tagovailoa wound up on his back, both his hands in the air and Bills players immediately pointed at him as if to suggest there was an injury. Dolphins center Aaron Brewer quickly did the same, waving to the sideline.
Tagovailoa appeared to be making a fist with his right hand as he lay on the ground. It was movement consistent with something that is referred to as the “fencing response,” which can be common after a traumatic brain injury.
Tagovailoa eventually got to his feet. McDaniel grabbed the side of his quarterback’s head and gave him a kiss on the cheek as Tagovailoa departed. Thompson came into the game to take Tagovailoa’s spot.
“I love Tua on and off the football field,” Bills edge Von Miller said. “I’m a huge fan of him. I can empathize and sympathize with him because I’ve been there. I wish him the best.”
Tagovailoa’s history with concussions — and how he has since worked to avoid them — is a huge part of the story of his career, and now comes to the forefront once again.
He had at least two concussions during the 2022 season. He was hurt in a Week 3 game against Buffalo and cleared concussion protocol, though he appeared disoriented on that play but returned to the game.
The NFL later changed its concussion protocol to mandate that if a player shows possible concussion symptoms — including a lack of balance or stability — he must sit out the rest of the game.
Less than a week later, in a Thursday night game at Cincinnati, Tagovailoa was concussed on a scary hit that briefly knocked him unconscious and led to him being taken off the field on a stretcher.
His second known concussion of that season came in a December game against Green Bay, and he didn’t play for the rest of the 2022 season. After that, Tagovailoa began studying ways where he may be able to fall more safely and protect himself against further injury — including studying jiu-jitsu.
“I’m not worried about anything that’s out of my hands,” McDaniel said. “I’m just worried about the human being.”
TORSBY, Sweden (AP) — David Beckham and former England coach Roy Hodgson were among the soccer dignitaries who attended the funeral of Sven-Goran Eriksson on Friday in the Swedish manager’s small hometown of Torsby.
Eriksson’s wooden coffin was covered in white flowers and surrounded by six tall candles and other floral wreaths as the ceremony began inside the 600-seat Fryksande church.
“It is a day of grief but also a day of thankfulness,” the priest, Ingela Älvskog, told those in attendance.
Beckham, who arrived by private jet on Thursday, greeted Eriksson’s 95-year-old father Sven and other family members with hugs inside the church before the funeral started.
Eriksson became England’s first foreign-born coach when he led the national team from 2001-06, and made Beckham his captain.
Eriksson, who also won trophies at club level in Italy, Portugal and Sweden, died on Aug. 26 at the age of 76, eight months after he revealed he had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and had at most one year to live.
Some 200 seats in the neo-Gothic church from 1898 were reserved for his family, friends and players from his career in the football world, according to his agent. The remaining seats were open for the public, according to Eriksson’s wish, with a big screen set up outside the church where hundreds more gathered to watch the ceremony. The funeral was also broadcast live on some Swedish media websites.
The wooden coffin was wheeled in by pallbearers at the church Friday morning as fog wrapped Torsby — a town of about 4,000 people located about 310 kilometers (193 miles) west of Stockholm. Next to the casket was a photo of Eriksson on a small table. The floral wreaths included ones sent by FIFA and Lazio, the Italian team that Eriksson led to the Serie A title in 2000.
The ceremony began with somber piano and organ music, but later took on a more upbeat note with Swedish singer Charlotta Birgersson performing Elton John’s song “Candle In The Wind” and then “My Way” in a duet with Johan Birgersson, who later intoned the popular Italian song “Volare” after the family had gathered around the casket to lay flowers.
Beckham also visited Eriksson in Sweden in June to say goodbye. Others attending the funeral included the Swedish coach’s longtime partner Nancy Dell’Olio. Eriksson’s agent had said that guests from England, Italy and Spain were expected.
After the funeral, the casket was carried out of the church by eight men to the hearse. The guests then walked in a procession accompanying the coffin to a nearby museum where speeches and eulogies to the coach fondly known as “Svennis” were planned on an outdoor stage. A brass band played during the procession through Torsby, including the tune “You never walk alone” from the musical “Carousel” which has become the anthem of Liverpool, the club Eriksson supported since childhood.
The local soccer club Torsby IF, where Eriksson started his career in the 1960s, wrote on its webpage that “you also showed your greatness by always being yourself, the caring Svennis who talked to everyone and took the time, for big and small, asking how things were and how the football was going. We will miss you.”
