By the numbers: McDavid joins a weird company on his 26th birthday – TSN.ca

With just eight career seasons in the NHL, Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid has already cemented his legacy as one of the greatest hockey players of all time.

The Richmond Hill, Ontario native is in the midst of what could be a landmark season, even by his standards. With 35 goals in 43 games, McDavid is on pace to score 66 goals, breaking his previous career high of 44. It would also be the highest NHL goal total since Mario Lemieux scored 69 in the 1995-96 season.

The four-time Art Ross Trophy winner is also on pace for 150 points, which again would be the most since Lemieux recorded 92 assists to go along with his 69 goals in 1995.

McDavid celebrates his 26th birthday Friday as the Oilers try to get back into the playoff race against the San Jose Sharks. As McDavid chases history in his eighth season, his production continues to rival that of NHL Hall of Famers at the same stage in their careers.

A two-time Hart Trophy winner, McDavid has surpassed 100 points in five of his first seven seasons and likely would have posted a sixth 100-point season (97 points in 64GP) had the 2019-20 season not been shortened due to the Pandemic. of COVID-19.

If he continues at his current scoring pace, McDavid would be one of five players in NHL history to reach 150 points. Lemieux did it four times (1988, 1989, 1993, 1996), while Wayne Gretzky scored 150 points nine times (1981-1987, 1989, 1991).

Since 2000, only Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov’s 128 points in 2019, San Jose Sharks forward Joe Thornton’s 125 points in 2006, and New York Rangers forward Jaromir Jagr’s 123 points in 2006 have equaled or surpassed McDavid’s 123-point mark in 2021-22. .

If he reaches 60 goals, he would be only the fourth player since 2000 to reach the plateau, following Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin (2008), Lightning captain Steven Stamkos (2012), and Los Angeles forward Toronto Maple Leafs, Auston Matthews (2022).

McDavid is the heavy favorite to win his third Hart Trophy, ahead of Boston Bruins forward David Pastrnak and New Jersey Devils forward Jack Hughes, who have the next lowest odds.

The five-time All-Star currently leads the league in goals and could continue to add to his already impressive resume by winning his first Rocket Richard trophy. He currently leads Pastrnak by three goals going into play on Friday.

McDavid is 16 points ahead of teammate Leon Draisaitl for the league lead in scoring.

McDavid enters the 26-year-old in the top 10 all-time in points, assists, power play points, power play assists and game-winning goals by players 25 and younger.

The Oilers are currently 22-18-3 and currently sit in the second wild card seed in the Western Conference. They are 11 points behind the Vegas Golden Knights in the race for first place in the Pacific Division.