Ryan McDonagh living out childhood dream in NHL skills competition
Picture a young Ryan McDonagh.
A kid who lived and breathed hockey, as so many did growing up in St. Paul, Minnesota. A kid who would devour any chance he had to watch his NHL heroes exhibit their abilities – like catching the NHL All-Star Game skills competition on TV, for example.
He’d watch Ray Bourque snipe pucks in the shot accuracy competition. He’d watch Al MacInnis unleash absolute missiles from his stick in the hardest shot competition.
And he wanted nothing more than have the same place among the League’s elite one day.
“The skills competition is something I remember watching as a kid. Going out, trying emulate those competitions. Being like the pros,” said McDonagh, the New York Rangers defenseman who will participate in his first NHL All-Star Game weekend in Nashville.
“You didn’t have the foam targets to put on your net at home, but you tried to hit each corner as best as you can. I also tried to emulate the hardest shot. We didn’t have a radar gun, but you put the puck down and hit it as hard as you could.”
NHL players are naturally competitive, whether that’s in a random regular-season game or for the Stanley Cup overall. But McDonagh says that competitive spirit thrives in the skills competition.
“You’ve got more numbers to compare to. You have skating times right there for you, so you know what you have to beat. You’re seeing the guy you’re racing against, and that competitive spirit in all of us naturally takes over,” he said.
McDonagh isn’t sure in what events he’ll be asked to participate in. But he knows that Sunday’s revamped mini-tournament is going to have everyone participating. And skating. Lots of skating.
“The game itself is going to be interesting. Going 3-on-3 for 20 full minutes like that,” he said. “With the amount of open ice as there is, it’s hard to not have more offense happen.”
As McDonagh flies down to Nashville, he’s also teaming up with an airline this season: Delta, which is doing a promotion called “Fly Like a Pro” in which fans can win a variety of prizes – including an all-expenses paid trip for two on a private jet to see a Rangers road game.
The Rangers’ road has been a little bumpy this season, and it’s not been McDonagh’s best season. He has 24 points in 49 games, but like the rest of the Rangers there’s been some inconsistency for him.
What needs to improve for the Rangers to resemble contenders on a nightly basis?
“Like any team, we know what are strengths of our game are, and we know what it takes to get everyone to play to those strengths. We’re not a team that can rely on one or two guys having their top game that night. We need everybody to play their roles,” he said.
“And I think we’re starting to see everybody buy into that knowledge. Sometimes it takes time for guys to find out where they’re supposed to be, and for the coaching staff if find our where guys are supposed to be.”
This weekend, McDonagh’s where he’s wanted to be since he was a kid on the pond: Amongst the NHL’s all-star players.
“This is my first all-star game experience. I’ve been fortunate to have my teammates tell me what to expect. I’m just going to try and enjoy every moment, with my friends and family,” he said.
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Greg Wyshynski is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Contact him at [email protected] or find him on Twitter. His book, TAKE YOUR EYE OFF THE PUCK, is available on Amazon and wherever books are sold.
