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Oilers Coach Responds to Stars' Claims of Preferential Treatment for Connor McDavid

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Antonio Losada | Last updated May 25, 2025 6:54 AM ET

The Dallas Stars entered Game 2 after taking Game 1 from the Edmonton Oilers, but suffered a 3-0 loss in the second game of the Western Conference finals.

However, most headlines about the game weren't related to the result but to Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse’s slash on Stars forward Roope Hintz.

On Saturday, Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch pushed back on suggestions that Connor McDavid receives special treatment from NHL officials, after Stars head coach Pete DeBoer questioned the decision not to eject Nurse for slashing Hintz in Game 2.

“Obviously, after a game, you’re emotional,” Knoblauch said in an interview with TSN’s Ryan Rishaug. “Especially when your player gets - doesn’t return.

After Stars head coach Peter DeBoer weighed in on Darnell Nurse's slash on Roope Hintz and questioned whether the result would've been different if it was Connor McDavid.

Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch refuted those claims to @TSNRyanRishaug: https://t.co/9ktOWiEPvH pic.twitter.com/dGIzT7ZHeK
— TSN Hockey (@TSNHockey) May 24, 2025

”But to say that Connor McDavid gets preferential treatment is… I’ve been coaching for about 200 games for the Oilers, and I haven’t seen Connor get that special treatment.”

Knoblauch cited power-play data to defend his star.

“I look at the power plays drawn through the playoffs this year, and Connor has drawn five,” Knoblauch said. “The Dallas players have had five players with just as many power plays drawn, or more, than Connor McDavid. I find that hard to believe.

”I just see how many times he gets slashed and hooked throughout the regular season and playoffs, so I think the standard is actually against him.”

Following the Stars' Game 2 loss, DeBoer responded to a question on Nurse's action on Hintz during the post-game press conference with another question and invoking McDavid’s name.

"I'll answer your question with a question. Does anyone in this room think if Connor McDavid gets carried off the ice like that, that it's not a five-minute major?" DeBoer said. "That's my answer."

McDavid was not involved in the play, but his name became central to the debate given his superstar status and the supposed preferential treatment he gets from officials, in DeBoer's eyes.

Hintz, who has 11 points in 15 playoff games, remains day-to-day and awaits confirmation about his availability for Sunday's Game 3, set for a 3 p.m. ET puck drop.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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