Even before Connor McDavid made his NHL debut, expectations for him were incredibly high. After the Edmonton Oilers chose him first overall in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, it was clear he was already a highly decorated player from his time in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) at the junior level.
Across three seasons with the Erie Otters of the OHL, McDavid accumulated 97 goals and 188 assists. In that period, the talented center won the Red Tilson Trophy for OHL MVP, the Emms Family Award as OHL Rookie of the Year, and was named to several All-Star teams, all before reaching his 18th birthday.
Now in his tenth year as a professional, McDavid has achieved nearly every possible individual and regular-season honor in the NHL. He has participated in seven NHL All-Star Games, earned the Hart Memorial Trophy as the league`s Most Valuable Player three times, topped the league in scoring five times, and notably, was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP in 2024.
In truth, the sole major achievement that has eluded McDavid`s grasp is winning the Stanley Cup.
McDavid has been exceptionally dominant throughout the initial three rounds of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Heading into the Stanley Cup Final series facing the Florida Panthers, the Oilers` captain was leading all NHL players in postseason scoring with 26 points (six goals, 20 assists), one point ahead of fellow Oiler Leon Draisaitl.
During Edmonton`s five-game victory over the Dallas Stars in the Western Conference Final, McDavid recorded three goals and six assists. In a crucial Game 5, as the Stars threatened to mount a comeback, McDavid stepped up decisively, just as he`s done on numerous past occasions.
When a loose puck entered the neutral zone, McDavid utilized his exceptional speed, covering the distance to the net in only nine powerful strides before expertly sliding the puck by Stars goalie Casey DeSmith. This goal put the Oilers up 4-2, a lead they maintained on their way to a 6-3 series-clinching win.
This goal was McDavid`s second game-winner of the 2024 playoffs; he had also scored the deciding goal in Game 3 of that Western Conference Final series.
Even without a Stanley Cup title to his name yet, McDavid has consistently demonstrated an ability to perform under intense pressure. Notably, in 2024, he became only the sixth player in NHL history to be awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP while playing for the team that did not win the Stanley Cup Final.
Throughout the 2024 Stanley Cup Final series, the prominent Oilers player recorded at least one point in four out of seven games. He delivered a particularly memorable performance in Game 4, contributing a goal and three assists in a resounding 8-1 victory over the Panthers.
McDavid`s career statistics are impressive: he ranks sixth in points (143) among active NHL players. His five postseasons with 20 or more assists are the second-most in NHL history, trailing only Wayne Gretzky, who had six. Furthermore, the former first overall selection reached 100 career playoff assists in just 90 games, the second-fastest in NHL history, again behind only Gretzky (70 games). McDavid also holds the third-highest career playoff points-per-game average (1.59) in league history.
Beyond his remarkable playoff success, the star forward also delivered a heroic moment for Canada in the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament held in February. With the game tied 2-2 against the United States in overtime, McDavid scored the winning goal at 8:18 of the extra frame, securing victory for the Canadians in the tournament`s debut edition.
McDavid possesses the capability to execute extraordinary plays precisely when his team needs them most. He has consistently demonstrated this ability at the pinnacle of the sport.
Although the league is filled with talented individuals, McDavid has widely become recognized as the face of the NHL. His ability to create scoring chances is often breathtaking. Nevertheless, the one significant milestone McDavid has yet to achieve in his ten years in the league is lifting the Stanley Cup. Should he successfully guide the Oilers to playoff victory, it would undeniably solidify his place among the greatest players in hockey history.
Torin Vale 
Elton Marrow