REVEALED: McDavid's Freakish Acceleration

Insight to McDavid's edgework!

McDavid's freakish speed is something every young player should try to replicate. He's the top in the league in 1 on 1's, and his technique is responsible for his unreal acceleration.

Notice how he drives practically the entire blade in the ice on his initial crossover and following strides.

[Krimbopulous]

I think people might be missing the point. This wasn’t about the “race” aspect of the drill as much as it was about McDavid lifting his front foot up off the ice and jamming it in on takeoff. I’ve never seen anyone do that (could just be uninformed), but in all my power skating training that is a first and might offer *some* insight into how he’s able to go from zero to warp speed so much faster than anyone else.

[jbristowe]

McDavid is incredible. However, it's a bit unfair to compare McDavid's start to the start of the defender. For this drill, coaches will ask/force the defender to go backwards for the first 5 metres and then turn afterward to challenge the shooter. A backwards start requires a skater to pivot this way.

[yeltsin]

Watching this points out an interesting point. All the years I played we were told to push off the toes etc. Watching McDavid full blade makes sense. By just pushing off the toes you will have flex in the ankle and also lose power and acceleration. This defies all conventional teachings but the prof is in the pudding.

[knightonwarbeck]

REVEALED: You know little about hockey, skating or edgework. Defenceman or defender must use toes when accelerating backwards. But you use the term "edgework" because it makes you sound like some kind of expert on the subject of skating. Accelerating forwards and rearwards are two totally different things, motions, techniques. As for McDavid crossing over with blades "flat" on the ice... its typical mechanics of skating. McDavid is fast because he is fast not because of his toe push or blades are flat on the ice.

[jasonrekker]

In power skating they teach us to explode off the toes, not the full blade. Interesting.

[pth]

Speed yes, but Mcdavid has incredible puck control at high speed. No one else has that.

[Anonymerican]

Makes me curious as to what mcdavids skate profile is. (Radius, hollow)

[donaldchoi]

Taking 2 players with the same speed, it would already be unfair because the defense is starting backwards. Mc Davids speed would obviously increase the chances of the defender getting beat because McDavid is an alien.

[SonsOfEpicness]

Your own the right track, ice pressure is one key to mcdavids speed, this comes through pressure of the heel, instead of the toes

[UtilityLemon]

Basically this video is trying to say the mcdavid is a bender.

[pattystephens]

Reminds of Bure, except with less goals.

[yallontop]

I play hockey and I am not the grated skater but this will help

[steelo]

The skate part has to do with his blade profile.. you can make ur blade have more or less steel on the ice depending on your play style

[kenhanson]

lame video! anyone who plays hockey knows mcdavid had an advantage there on the way the started.

[adamfranasiak]

Because the d is going backwards ?! Horrible point

[andrewpersaud]

description is foolish. speed is genetic. focus on your agility, endurance and strength instead. sure there are ways to optimize your speed but you'll always be hindered by genetics. if someone faster does the right techniques as well, you'll never be as fast.