Real reason behind McDavid's puck handling problems revealed

The article, published in the Heavy Hockey Network, noted that McDavid appears to be bobbling the puck more this year than in past years; that he may have even lost a step.

The truth, however, is that Connor McDavid has actually gained a step. The reason we're seeing him bobble and lose control of the puck more is because the puck is not designed to move at McDavid's pace, and fails to keep up to him.

Simple physics, the writer of the article claims.

According to a new league-wide tracking system called EDGE, Connor is reaching top speeds of 24.6 miles per hour on the rush, the fastest ever recorded for him personally, and across the league this year.

All-time, it's the second-fasted ever recorded in the modern tracking era. The fastest is Miles Wood - 24.81 mph in 2024-25.

McDavid also leads the NHL in high-speed bursts above 22 mph, a stat which he's led since 2021-22. This year, he's already exceeded 22mph 47-times, and is on pace to set a new NHL record.

To put his speed into context, most NHL players cap-out at about 18mph, with the faster ones like Nathan MacKinnon at 20mph. At that pace, it's much easier to handle the puck, as it doesn't usually bounce and skip over the ice.

Instead, at 22mph-plus, the galvonized rubber cylinder doesn't remain flat on the ice. That we're seeing McDavid handle the puck at that speed is a testament to his puck-handling mastery.

For other players not named McDavid, their hands cannot safely control the puck at that pace, and so they don't even try, according to the article.

It's shocking really, that after ten-years of playing in the best league in the world, Connor McDavid is actually getting better and defying age, logic, and physics, and has the metrics to prove it.

Yet, for anyone that has followed the superstar, it's not surprising at all.