Connor McDavid Calls Out Brandon Manning for Last Season’s Injury

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(Kate Frese/Sports Talk Philly)

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

The play turned Connor McDavid's rookie season. The No. 1 overall pick, dubbed to be the next great player in the NHL, was facing the Philadelphia Flyers for the first time on Nov. 3, 2015. 

McDavid and Brandon Manning went crashing into the boards after a hard rush into the Flyers zone. McDavid hit the boards and suffered a broken collarbone as a result. He missed the next 37 games as a result. 

McDavid clearly hasn't forgotten the other player involved in the collision. He exchanged words with Manning several times on the ice on Thursday and after the game called out the Flyers defenseman.

"You know what, I did all I could defending him last year in the media. I didn’t want to make a big deal saying he did it on purpose," McDavid said. "He wanted to make some comments today about what went on last year and I thought it was one of the classless things I’ve ever seen on the ice. He said some things and our guys responded accordingly. We can put the whole 'he did it on purpose' thing to rest, because what he said out there confirmed that. It shows what kind of guy he is, how he doesn’t step up and fight some of our guys."

McDavid scored a goal and added an assist in the Flyers 6-5 win over the Oilers on Thursday. On his goal, McDavid followed with an emphatic fist pump and then started jawing at Manning again, drawing a crowd.

Manning responded to McDavid's comments after the game.

"I think anybody who knows me or who has played with or against me along the road here, knows that I am not that kind of player," Manning said. "I am not out there intentionally trying to hurt people. I’m a guy who plays the game hard and I take pride in that. I think going back to last year, it was a total accident, I mean, there were three players involved and there was never any intention on hurting anyone."

With every gathering, Flyers fans had a new target. McDavid will almost certainly join the ranks of other skill players to draw their ire — Sidney Crosby, Patrick Kane, P.K. Subban, Alex Ovechkin.

Welcome to the club, Mr. McDavid.

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