Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid became the first player this season to reach the 100-point mark Friday night against the New York Rangers, doing so in only 56 games.
McDavid is the fourth player in NHL history to be the first to reach 100 points in a season five or more times, joining Hall of Famers Phil Esposito (six times), Mario Lemieux (six times) and Wayne Gretzky (nine times).
The two-time Hart Trophy winner reaches the century mark in points for the third consecutive season and the sixth time overall. McDavid tied Jari Kurri for the second-most 100-point seasons in Oilers history and trails only “The Great One,” who accomplished the feat nine times in Edmonton.
McDavid tallied point No. 100, earning an assist on a first-period tally by Ryan Nugent-Hopkins before adding another helper later in the period on a Leon Draisaitl goal.
With two assists on the night, McDavid is only two points shy of 800 just — 543 games into his career. Barring an injury or a cataclysmic loss of skill, when McDavid does surpass the 800-point mark, he’ll become the fastest active player to do it, topping Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby, who achieved the milestone in 571 games.
Believe it or not, McDavid could make even more NHL history this season. If he keeps producing at the current pace, McDavid is within striking distance of becoming the first player to record 150 points in a season since Lemieux finished the 1995-96 campaign with 161.
At only 26 years old, McDavid has already put together a remarkable career, but the best is yet to come. Thankfully for hockey fans, McDavid has a long career ahead of him, with more incredible marks left to reach.
