What Makes Connor McDavid Great? His Obsession for Winning

If there’s one thing you notice reading Connor McDavid’s letter to Canada, it’s how much he just wants to win. Not fame, not breaks, not the Bahamas. Playing to win. That’s it in a nutshell.

As McDavid put it simply, “I don’t want to play golf or sit by the pool. I don’t need a break or a fresh start. I just want to be in Edmonton, playing hockey.” Even after losing in the playoffs and right after his wedding, that’s where he wanted to be. That hunger is constant.

McDavid Became Oilers Captain at 19

He became captain of the Oilers at 19, and that role brought its own set of new problems. He jokes about having to move out of his parents’ house. But, in truth, he was suddenly leading grown men while still figuring out life himself.

He sounded surprised when he said, “Somebody has to step up and say something. And a room full of guys would turn their heads… Oh, they’re looking at me.” That pressure didn’t crush him—it fueled him.

For McDavid, winning isn’t only about the stats. He wants to improve his game every single day. He’s accountable to himself alone, but he also pushes his teammates to raise their games. How can we play smarter? How can we find ways to win when others can’t? Playing for Canada only amplifies it: “Best-on-best, country-against-country… it reminds us of the shovels and the snow, the rollerblades and the roadrash.”

That’s what hockey meant to him as a kid, and it still drives him now.

For McDavid, Losing Hurt More than Winning Felt Good

Connor’s competitive streak started early. At 12, a loss hurt him more than a win made him feel good. “Looking back, it seems ridiculous now. But the pain of losing… it felt worse than the joy of winning.” That sting never left—it’s what keeps him hungry, always working, always trying to be better than yesterday.

And that’s who he is. Hockey and the drive to win shape his choices every day. Fun and relaxation? They’re there, but just around the edges.

McDavid’s life is built around sharpening his game. Every shift, every time he puts on that Canada jersey, he’s giving it everything. Every morning is about the next game, and every second on the ice is a chance to improve.

That’s McDavid’s fire—and that obsession is what makes him one of the greatest players in the world.

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