• HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • Site Index
  • NHL Salary Caps
  • Hockey 101: A Beginner’s Guide
  • Join Our Team
  • Free Newsletter
  • Store
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
Home
Edmonton Oilers

McDavid Chasing Oilers Legends

By Brett Newmyer January 10th, 2020

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

In what Connor McDavid has done in four and a half seasons, he is already being spoken about as a legend in the making. One thing that will always loom over his once-in-a-generation-talent is that Wayne Gretzky was also an Edmonton Oiler who just happened to win four Stanley Cups in his nine years wearing the same jersey (10 seasons if you include his WHA season).

To say that it is unlikely that McDavid will catch Gretzky’s four Stanley Cups in nine years would be putting it very politely. McDavid is in his fifth season which means if the Oilers don’t win this season, they would have to win four consecutive Cups. Team success aside, let’s see what the timeline would look like for McDavid to break into the top four all-time points for the Oilers.

Fourth Place: Glenn Anderson

Glenn Anderson sits comfortably at the No. 4 spot and over 845 games with the Oilers racked up 906 points. In McDavid’s 333 games, he has posted 442 points. Anderson’s points per game were 1.07 compared to McDavid’s 1.33. Assuming McDavid’s pace stays the same, he should catch Anderson in 681 games, which is eight seasons and about 25 games.

Glenn Anderson of the Edmonton Oilers
Canadian professional ice hockey player Glenn Anderson of the Edmonton Oilers skates on the ice during a road game against the Los Angeles Kings, Los Angeles, 1980s. Anderson was with the Oilers from 1980 to 1991. (Photo by Bruce Bennett Studios/Getty Images)

McDavid’s career thus far has been overall fairly healthy. His rookie season was rudely interrupted by a fractured clavicle, forcing him to miss 37 games, and in the most recent offseason, he had an injured PCL. This makes it probable that he stays healthy enough to catch Anderson before his eighth season because McDavid’s point per game production has gotten stronger every season. So my prediction: McDavid catches Anderson in March 2023.

Second and Third Place: Jari Kurri and Mark Messier

These guys are too close in points as Oilers to separate. Jari Kurri is in second place with 1,043 points in 754 games while Mark Messier has 1,034 points in 851 games. These are great numbers, but are also very reachable for McDavid.

According to McDavid’s aforementioned 1.33 pace, he should catch these guys in roughly 785 games or nine and a half seasons. To put this in an eyebrow-raising perspective, Shawn Horcoff played 796 games as an Oiler, and as of today, McDavid is five points behind Horcoff’s Oilers career total. Five points! You can’t rule out McDavid geting five points any given game, so watch out, Horcoff!

Jari Kurri #17 of the Edmonton Oilers
INGLEWOOD, CA – 1989: Jari Kurri #17 of the Edmonton Oilers controls the puck as he and Dean Kennedy #6 of the Los Angeles Kings round the net during an NHL game circa 1989 at the Great Western Forum in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Bruce Bennett Studios/Getty Images)

Based on data involving how hockey players grow throughout their career McDavid’s pace should increase. This nine and a half-season timeline will put him around 28 years old, which is actually the age that NHL forwards peak. Always the optimist, I’m going to predict that McDavid passes Kurri and Messier in Nov. 2024.

Top Spot: Wayne Gretzky

If McDavid’s journey to be the Oilers’ all-time point leader was a video game, this would be the boss fight. Gretzky’s 1,669 points as an Oiler alone would put him in ninth place for all time points between Mario Lemieux and Joe Sakic.

Peter Chiarelli is no longer the general manager, so the odds of McDavid being traded away from Edmonton are extremely slim. But still, Gretzky’s numbers are daunting. In those nine seasons, Gretzky had four seasons with 200 points or more.

Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton Oilers
Wayne Gretzky brought one last glimmer of hope to the WHA but he was too young to save the league from financial woes. (Photo by B Bennett/Bruce Bennett Studios/Getty Images)

It isn’t really fair to compare Gretzky’s era to modern hockey because in the 1980s goal totals were much higher than today. For example, the 1983-84 Oilers possess the record for scoring 446 goals in an 80 game season. As great as the Tampa Bay Lightning were last season, in comparison they only racked up 319 goals over 82 games.

To go back to the ratio of McDavid’s 1.33 pace, it would take him 1,254 games to catch Gretzky’s 1,669 Oiler point total. This is a grand total of 15 and one-third seasons. This is assuming he stays healthy and that the 1.33 pace is accurate. I believe that it is because his pace is expected to increase, but after McDavid’s peak at 28 years old, it is expected to decrease.

With this much time passing, it is the hardest to predict what hockey will look like in 10 years, but my prediction will be McDavid catches this total on Jan. 13, 2032. That’s right, on his 35th birthday. Hopefully, the Oilers have a game that day!

Watching McDavid score goals and win trophies will always be exciting. However, his individual accomplishments would pale in comparison to his lifting the Stanley Cup, especially since he is the captain. He is a team-first guy, so let’s hope that everything he gives up for his team leads to him winning that ultimate prize. And as a bonus, set the new golden standard as an Oiler.

  • Tags
  • Connor McDavid
  • Jari Kurri
  • Mark Messier
  • Wayne Gretzky
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Get theScore App Now!
Recent Posts
Jan 19th 9:55 AM
Los Angeles Kings

Kings’ Jeff Carter Playing Much Better After Surgery

Jan 19th 9:45 AM
Toronto Maple Leafs

Maple Leafs’ Takeaways: Andersen’s Back, a New Marner and More D

Jan 19th 9:35 AM
Minnesota Wild

Wild Get Much-Needed Intangibles & Experience With Bonino

Jan 19th 9:25 AM
Colorado Avalanche

Avalanche Look to Gain Momentum on California Road Trip

Jan 19th 9:15 AM
NHL Goaltending

Senators Can Be Optimistic With Comfortable & Confident Murray in Net

Jan 19th 9:05 AM
New Jersey Devils

Devils News & Rumors: Dell, Bratt & More

Jan 19th 8:55 AM
New York Rangers

Rangers’ Buchnevich Off to an Impressive Start

Jan 19th 8:45 AM
Toronto Maple Leafs

Maple Leafs Go Defense First in Win Against the Jets

Jan 19th 8:35 AM
Colorado Avalanche

Today in Hockey History: Jan. 19

Jan 18th 5:55 PM
Other Leagues

Ducks Will Benefit From Gulls’ Temporary Relocation to Irvine

Editor’s Picks
World Junior Championship All-Time Leading Scorers

World Junior Championship All-Time Leading Scorers

2021 Guide To the World Junior Championship

2021 Guide To the World Junior Championship

Masthead

Newsletters

RSS Feeds

Privacy Statement

Contact Us

About THW…

Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. Updated daily with news and features from over 130 writers worldwide. Over 2 million monthly readers now come to THW for their hockey fix.

© The Hockey Writers 2020. All rights reserved.
logo
  • HOME
  • Hockey Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • North Division
    • Calgary Flames
    • Edmonton Oilers
    • Montreal Canadiens
    • Ottawa Senators
    • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Vancouver Canucks
    • Winnipeg Jets
  • East Division
    • Boston Bruins
    • Buffalo Sabres
    • New Jersey Devils
    • New York Islanders
    • New York Rangers
    • Philadelphia Flyers
    • Pittsburgh Penguins
    • Washington Capitals
  • Central Division
    • Carolina Hurricanes
    • Chicago Blackhawks
    • Columbus Blue Jackets
    • Dallas Stars
    • Detroit Red Wings
    • Florida Panthers
    • Nashville Predators
    • Tampa Bay Lightning
  • West Division
    • Anaheim Ducks
    • Arizona Coyotes
    • Colorado Avalanche
    • Los Angeles Kings
    • Minnesota Wild
    • San Jose Sharks
    • Seattle Kraken
    • St Louis Blues
    • Vegas Golden Knights
  • World Juniors
  • CHL
    • Ontario Hockey League
    • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
    • Western Hockey League
  • THW Podcast Network
  • Store
  • FREE Newsletter
  • Search THW
  • More…
    • Join Our Team
    • The THW Archives
    • Prospects
    • The Goalie Page
    • NHL Salary Cap Information