Jack Eichel’s New Mindset Highlights Frustrating Start for Oilers’ McDavid
Jack Eichel decided that he was going to shoot more this season. In five games played, he leads the NHL with 27 shots, and the decision is paying off. He’s got 11 points in five games, and the Golden Knights are off to a 3-0-2 start.
For the Oilers, Eichel’s new mindset highlights a growing frustration in Edmonton, where Connor McDavid hasn’t scored a goal this season. Following off-season comments that he wanted to score more, McDavid continues to pass the puck and forego shooting opportunities. If Eichel can generate 40 shot attempts in just five games, what is McDavid’s reasoning behind having only 15 shots and ranking 40th in the NHL?
Eichel is averaging eight shot attempts and 5.4 shots on goal per game, proving that volume shooting can be an effective strategy. Contrast that with McDavid, who continues to look for the perfect pass instead of taking shots in key moments. It’s no wonder Oilers fans, for as much as they love McDavid, are becoming impatient.
The Oilers’ Loss to the Islanders Was a Great Example of McDavid’s Lack Of Shooting
Thursday night’s 3-2 deficit (ultimately a 4-2 loss) against the New York Islanders offered a perfect example of what’s wrong with McDavid’s game right now. McDavid opted to pass to defenseman
Thursday’s game was a disaster for the Oilers in many ways. From Evan Bouchard’s costly giveaway to McDavid’s missed shooting opportunities, the Oilers struggled with consistency and urgency against a winless team. Edmonton, and specifically McDavid, talked about the Oilers getting off to a fast start. They’ve earned points in several games, but have only looked sharp against Vancouver. McDavid has points, but no goals. For a player who wanted to score 50, he’ll need to change his mindset.
Eichel’s approach is a reminder that sometimes the simplest play—just shoot the puck—can be the most effective.
Vikings QB Carson Wentz Primed for ‘Revenge Game’ Against Eagles in Week 7
There is one specific storyline that’s going to come up whenever any NFL team faces one of its old starting quarterbacks. One part of that formula is we can usually ratchet up that attention the higher the draft pick.
While some of that luster may have been lost for a variety of reasons, when the Minnesota Vikings host the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles in Week 7, they’ll do so with Carson Wentz starting at quarterback in place of injured 2024 first round pick J.J. McCarthy.
That’s notable because Wentz, once upon a time, was the player the Eagles pinned all of their franchise hopes and dreams on.
To recap: Philadelphia drafted Wentz No. 2 overall out of North Dakota State in the 2016 NFL draft, watched him earn NFL All-Pro honors and win a Super Bowl in his second season and signed him to a 4-year, $128 million contract extension before the 2019 season.
To say Wentz doesn’t have extra motivation against the team he used to play for and the player who ultimately took his spot in quarterback and reigning Super Bowl MVP Jalen Hurts would be to simply deny the human condition.
No matter what anyone on either side might say, it matters.
There was some speculation McCarthy might return for the Vikings after missing the last 4 games due to an ankle injury until head coach Kevin O’Connell announced Wentz would make his fourth consecutive start.
“The Carson Wentz revenge game is officially on,” NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo wrote on his official X account on October 17. “Kevin O’Connell announces Wentz will start for the Vikings against the Eagles.”
‘Revenge’ Narrative Not Really What It Seems
This isn’t the first time Wentz has faced his old team. In his only other time facing the Eagles, Wentz started for the Washington Commanders in a 24-8 loss in 2022 in which he was largely ineffective, going 25-of-43 passing for 211 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions.
No matter how media types might want to spin it, sometimes a “revenge” narrative might not always be what it seems — something Eagles Pin Pull podcast host Shane Haff astutely pointed out is the case with Wentz.
“Hard to call it a revenge game when the team benched you while you were playing terribly and then acquiesced to your trade request in the offseason, trading you to the coach you wanted to play for,” Haff wrote on his official X account on October 17. “The Eagles didn’t do wrong by Carson Wentz. Every time a player plays a former team we don’t have to call it a ‘revenge’ game.”
Wentz Made NFL History in 2025
Wentz made NFL history when he started for the Vikings in Week 3 against the Cincinnati Bengals, becoming the first quarterback to start for 6 different teams in 6 consecutive seasons.
Wentz started 12 games for the Eagles in 2020, 17 games for the Indianapolis Colts in 2021, 7 games for the Commanders in 2022, 1 game for the Los Angeles Rams in 2023 and 1 game for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2024.
“If he starts for the Vikings this weekend, Carson Wentz would become the first quarterback in NFL history to start at least one game for six different teams in six consecutive seasons,” ESPN’s Bill Barnwell wrote on his official X account on September 15.
