Edmonton Oilers
Oilers Connor McDavid Is in Some Ridiculously Good Company
Connor McDavid has joined NHL legends with a historic start. But with Draisaitl rolling too, the Oilers have even more to celebrate.
There are hot starts, and then there are really hot starts. Reaching 30 points in your first 10 games of the season ranks near the very top. As the NHL graphic below shows, Connor McDavid is in a small club with three of the best ever to play in the NHL. That’s the great Mario Lemieux, Mike Bossy, and Wayne Gretzky. That’s not just a list of great players. It’s also a reminder of how rare this kind of offensive burst is, even across different eras of hockey.
A Few Interesting Lemieux Details Jump Out for Fans
The detail that jumps out is Lemieux. Gretzky and Bossy each hit the mark in 1984–85, but Lemieux did it three times: in 1988–89, 1992–93 and 1995–96. So McDavid isn’t simply joining three other players who each did it once. He’s reaching a level that Lemieux managed repeatedly, while matching a pace also reached by two of the biggest names from the high-scoring 1980s.
It’s fair to say McDavid is putting the Oilers on his back—at least offensively. He had 31 points through those 10 games, and Edmonton had scored 46 goals. That means he had a hand in a huge chunk of the team’s scoring. But there’s a useful wrinkle here: this isn’t a one-man show. Leon Draisaitl had 21 points of his own, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins made an impact with a goal and an assist in his season debut. McDavid may be driving the bus, but he’s got serious company to help him steer.
McDavid Is Doing This in a Completely Different NHL Era
That’s what makes the comparison more interesting than just staring at the giant “30” on the graphic. Gretzky, Lemieux, Bossy and McDavid played in different eras, with different styles and conditions. You can’t use this one stat to decide who was best, or assume McDavid will keep scoring at this pace. Ten games are still ten games. But joining this company says his start belongs in the conversation with some of the league’s most explosive offensive stretches.
The biggest surprise might be how recently this kind of opening happened: Lemieux’s last qualifying season was 1995–96, so McDavid’s performance stands out after a long gap. And he didn’t just sneak over the line—he finished with 31 points. That’s an absurd pace.
McDavid Is Carrying the Oilers. Can This Pace Continue?
So, is McDavid carrying the Oilers? He’s carrying a massive share of their offence, absolutely. But the best sign for Edmonton may be that Draisaitl is producing too. When one superstar is on a historic run, and another elite scorer is right there with him, opponents have a pretty miserable problem to solve.
The fact is, as Oilers fans know, McDavid can’t do it alone. Having Draisaitl with him will be key to his continued scoring success this season.
Related: Hyman’s Viral Wink Steals the Show in Oilers’ Shootout Win
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