- Wayne Gretzky called Connor McDavid’s start to the season “truly remarkable”
- McDavid has 44 points in 17 games, on pace for 217 and a new single-season record
- Read below for what Gretzky said about McDavid’s Stanley Cup mission
Wayne Gretzky is paying attention to Connor McDavid’s chase of his record.
The Great One was asked Friday about McDavid’s start to the season and called it “truly remarkable.” McDavid is up to 44 points through 17 games after a four-point night in Thursday’s 5-4 loss to the Ducks, which puts him on pace for 217 points. Gretzky’s 215 in 80 games in 1985-86 is still the single-season record.
Gretzky talked about what McDavid has been doing and how the game has changed around players like him.
“It’s incredible. He’s a tremendous young man, he’s obviously a great hockey player, and what he’s doing is truly remarkable,” Gretzky said. “Today the athletes, and I say this with a great deal of respect, as time goes on, the equipment gets better, the athletes get bigger and better, the game gets better, and it’s all positive. And what he’s doing now is remarkable.”
The numbers are ridiculous. McDavid has at least one point in all 17 games and three or more in seven of them. He has 34 assists, more than any other player in the league has points, and leads the NHL scoring race by 13 over Leon Draisaitl (31) and Evan Bouchard (30). We covered his assist streak passing Gretzky’s mark last week.
Thursday showed the range. McDavid set up Bouchard for the tying goal, then went coast to coast on his own for a shorthanded goal.
Check out the shorthanded goal:
Gretzky also talked about what drives McDavid, who is still chasing the Stanley Cup after back-to-back Final losses to the Panthers in 2024 and 2025.
“More importantly he’s a wonderful young man, and what he’s doing for his hockey team, for the game, for the city of Edmonton, it’s unmatched right now,” Gretzky said. “He’s on a mission to win a Stanley Cup, he wants it desperately, and that’s what you need out of your best player and your captain.”
Edmonton is 11-3-3 and tied with Minnesota for the top spot in the West. McDavid was also in the middle of the Podkolzin-Helleson fight earlier this week.
