Connor McDavid: Losing 'eats me alive'

Finishing 29th in the NHL standings doesn't sit well with Connor McDavid, and the young Edmonton Oilers center made that perfectly clear as the team gathered for exit meetings Sunday.

"It eats me alive," he said. "If it doesn't, you shouldn't be here. I'm someone who doesn't handle losing very well."

Unfortunately for both McDavid and the Oilers, the 2015 first overall pick played only 45 games this season after breaking his clavicle back in November, limiting his ability to expedite the forever-stalled rebuilding process.

McDavid did prove to be the brightest of the bunch when it comes to recent Oilers lottery picks, however, recording 16 goals and 32 assists, ranking third league-wide in points per game, behind only Patrick Kane and Jamie Benn and ahead of Sidney Crosby.

General manager Peter Chiarelli certainly has some big decisions to make this offseason, and his intentions may not be fully determined until after he finds out where the Oilers will pick in the draft. McDavid, of course, is a lock to remain in Edmonton for as long as possible. For now, he's off to represent Canada at the World Championship next month, where he hopes to regain that winning feeling.