You knew this day was coming before Connor McDavid had even completed his first NHL season.
Even then, as an 18-year-old kid, his destiny had already been predetermined. Superstar. Generational player. The potential to be an all-time great. The second coming of Wayne Gretzky.
Within a matter of weeks we could all see that the hype was true, a city that once boasted The Great One now had The Great II.
It wasn’t a matter of if he would hit 1,000 points one day, but rather when.
And still, even though this milestone is something we all knew and expected, McDavid still managed to turn the remarkable up a notch, reaching the 1,000-point mark in the fourth-fastest time in NHL history. His 659-game pace is behind only Gretzky (454 games), Mario Lemieux (513) and Mike Bossy (565).
That McDavid, shooting on vastly superior goalies and playing against vastly superior defensive structures, is even in the same stratosphere as guys who logged their points in the brown-pad goalie era only adds to the magnitude of what he accomplished.
Of the 12 fastest players to reach 1,000 points, McDavid is the only one who didn’t hit the mark in the 80s or 90s.
“It’s an insane accomplishment,” said teammate Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, who has been there from the start. “Leon said it best: ‘It’s legendary stuff.’ Fourth fastest in NHL history in an era that he plays in is remarkable. It’s been a lot of fun to be part of.”
Fans and media like to think they know how big a deal it is to reach quadruple figures, but only NHL players have a true appreciation for how hard it is to get one point in this league, much less 1,000 in 659 games.
“It’s the hardest league in the world to score and get points in,” said Nugent-Hopkins. “He makes it seem pretty easy at times. It’s definitely not. For him to do it so consistently, night in night out, year in year out, that’s why he’ll go down as one of the best to ever do it.”
McDavid came into Edmonton’s two-game homestand with 955 points, so there was an off chance he wasn’t going to reach the mark at home.
Except no there wasn’t.
He almost did it in one game, putting up four points in a 4-3 win over the New York Islanders on Tuesday, and needed 22:44 to get it done against Nashville on Thursday night.
McDavid ripped home a one-timer on a pass from Leon Draisaitl early in the second period to give him 341 goals and 659 assists.
It wasn’t if, it was when. That’s how he rolls.
“Last game (against the Islanders) he takes it over by himself,” said Mattias Ekholm, who’s seen this marvel from both sides, as a defenceman in Nashville playing against McDavid for years and now as a teammate in Edmonton.
“He imposes his will on teams with the way he plays. He’s the best in the world and he proves it every night. It’s a great feeling to have him on your side as opposed to playing against him. It’s been a pleasure so far.”
What stands out most for McDavid’s teammates, even above the accolades, accomplishments and highlight reel plays that even professional hockey players can’t comprehend, is who McDavid is off the ice. And that’s saying something given the numbers: Five Art Ross Trophies, four Ted Lindsay Awards, three Hart Trophies, one Rocket Richard Trophy and one Conn Smythe.
“All these results and records, it feels like he’s been breaking records left and right ever since I’ve been here,” said Ekholm. “But that doesn’t seem to (matter to him). It’s great for him and I’m sure when he’s sitting at home by himself he’s enjoying that. But when he’s at the rink it’s all about the team and it’s about how the team can find wins and success. That’s what’s been so amazing about him.”
Everyone in the Oilers room wants a Stanley Cup, that’s no secret, but they say it’s reassuring when a player with so much talent works as hard as anyone and wants it more than anyone.
If there’s any player who might be satisfied with what he’s accomplished so far it’s a guy with 14 major NHL awards, 1,000 points and $100 million in earning before he gets his next big raise in two years.
But the captain is still hungry and that means a lot to his teammates.
“I haven’t won yet and that’s all I’m striving for every day,” said Ekholm. “He’s the best player in the world and you know that what he values the most is the team success. His own milestones are great, but every day, whether he had four points or zero points, he’s going to always look into what he can do more for the team to have success. What else can you ask out of your leader?”
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