frm Kevin McGran of the Toronto Star,

... there is soon going to be a new kid in town. Connor McDavid.

And if and when McDavid arrives in this western city — once mocked as Deadmonton, the city that free agents either fled or dread — he’ll be coming to a place with a new sense of self, a newfound confidence.

It stems partly from folks here finding other things to do, and other ways to define themselves while the Oilers played so poorly — and partly from the fact there’s this big new arena going in downtown where McDavid will play in a couple of seasons.

“The Oilers have a new barn, a top pick and a lot of young talent,” says James Jackson, in charge of bringing sporting events to Edmonton. “We have a new young mayor. Our average age is 36. And we voted NDP.

“It’s a cool dynamic.”

No. This isn’t Wayne Gretzky’s Edmonton. It will be Connor McDavid’s. And they can’t get him here soon enough.

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