It’s time to talk about Connor McDavid and his status as one of hockey’s all-time greats. McDavid recently achieved the remarkable feat of recording 100 assists in a single season, solidifying his place among the elite players in the history of the NHL. This impressive accomplishment further bolsters his case for a spot on hockey’s Mount Rushmore, even at the young age of 27.
McDavid’s 100 assists mark the 14th time in NHL history that a player has reached this milestone, with the last player being Wayne Gretzky in the 1990-91 season. The Edmonton Oilers forward achieved this feat with an assist on Zach Hyman’s goal in a dominant 9-2 victory over the San Jose Sharks. McDavid narrowly beat out Nikita Kucherov of the Tampa Bay Lightning, who recorded his 99th assist on the same day, with one game left to hit the milestone.
Joining Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, and Bobby Orr in this exclusive club is a significant achievement for McDavid. These legendary players are often included on everyone’s Mount Rushmore list, and McDavid’s playmaking ability puts him in the same conversation. Since entering the NHL, McDavid has been building a case for himself as one of the greatest players of all time.
In McDavid’s rookie season, unfortunately, we were deprived of witnessing his true greatness due to a broken collarbone sustained from a controversial hit by Brandon Manning. Despite playing only 45 games that season, he managed to accumulate an impressive 48 points, which translates to an 87-point pace over a full season. To put this in context, 87 points would have landed him third in the scoring race for the 2015-16 season, sandwiched between Jamie Benn and Sidney Crosby.
While McDavid fell short of winning the Calder Trophy as the league’s top rookie, he has more than made up for it by collecting numerous other awards throughout his career. He has already won the Art Ross Trophy five times in the seven completed seasons since his rookie campaign, finishing as the league’s leading scorer. McDavid’s consistent excellence in playmaking has cemented his status amongst the game’s greatest.
McDavid was once again in the thick of the scoring race this season, despite a slow start by his standards. He managed to climb back and take the lead on March 30. Unfortunately, a lower-body injury sidelined him, preventing him from potentially winning a sixth Art Ross Trophy, a feat that would match legends Mario Lemieux and Gordie Howe for second all-time, behind Gretzky’s remarkable ten victories. However, McDavid’s performance this season has already placed him among the greats, tied with Phil Esposito and Jaromir Jagr.
It’s worth noting that McDavid has played in an era with at least 30 NHL teams, which means he competes against a minimum of 600 active skaters on a regular basis. Compared to the players who came before him, who faced shallower competition, winning scoring championships in this era is incredibly challenging. McDavid’s ability to accumulate career titles during this time is an unfathomable accomplishment and further emphasizes his exceptional talent.
As McDavid approaches the milestone of 1,000 career points, he is just 18 away from reaching this significant achievement. If he manages to achieve this feat in the next 11 games, he will become the third-fastest player in NHL history to do so. Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux achieved this milestone in 424 and 513 games, respectively, during an era when offensive production was at its peak. Mike Bossy currently holds the record at 656 games, but McDavid has a good chance to surpass him with his recent performance.
Often referred to as a generational player, McDavid has surpassed the expectations. He has already won the Hart Trophy three times, which is awarded to the league’s most valuable player. This achievement places him alongside Alexander Ovechkin and just ahead of Sidney Crosby in terms of contemporary players. When McDavid won the award, he received overwhelming support, with only a single first-place vote not cast in his favor.
McDavid is certainly in the running for another Hart Trophy this season. Despite a decline in goal-scoring and not being the clear-cut scoring leader, his production remains outstanding. This highlights his brilliance as a player and makes him a strong contender for the title.
When considering McDavid’s overall legacy, some critics may point to the absence of a Stanley Cup on his resume. McDavid himself has acknowledged that winning the Cup is essential to be considered one of the all-time greats. The focus for him this season is not on individual accolades but on leading the Edmonton Oilers to lift the silver chalice in June.
While it is unimaginable to think that McDavid won’t win the Stanley Cup at least once in his career, it’s essential to recognize that there have been many exceptional players who retired without that achievement. McDavid sets himself apart from them with his exceptional skill set and contributions to the game.
Winning the Stanley Cup in today’s NHL is more challenging than ever before. With the increased parity in the league, almost any of the 16 teams that make the playoffs have a legitimate chance to win the championship. The Western Conference, for instance, features strong teams that could all make it to the final. While the Oilers could face disappointment if they were to exit early, it would likely not be due to