FEATURE: Simply Generational

EDMONTON, AB - In an era where the talent in hockey is exceptional, we are witnessing a generational one here in Edmonton.
At 24 years old, Connor McDavid has seemingly entered his prime, at least on paper. Yet, when you look at his body of work through his first six seasons, the question becomes, "just how much better can he reallyget?"
Two Hart Trophies, three Ted Lindsays, three Art Ross titles and likely a Calder Memorial Trophy as a rookie in 2015-16 if not for a broken collarbone against the Philadelphia Flyers. Over 400 games, 574 points and 195 goals coming into 2021-22 and somehow, the signs continue to point skyward in McDavid's progression through five games.

I know, I know. "It's just five games," to quote the Oilers captain on Monday. But it's time all hockey fans appreciate what we're witnessing here in Oil Country, regardless of the team you cheer for.
McDavid is just one of two players in franchise history to begin a season with five straight multi-point outings (you know the other guy, I promise). He's also just the 12th player in NHL history to accomplish the feat. Furthermore, he's led his team to a 5-0-0 start for the second time in his career.

The Newmarket, Ont. product just notched his 200th career NHL goal, becoming the fourth-fastest to do it in the history of Orange & Blue. His 13 points in six games currently paces the NHL, but as he and his teammate Leon Draisaitl have said in the past, they'd trade all of the personal accolades and points for hockey's biggest prize.
"We talked about Connor and Leon with some friends of mine today and the best thing about those guys is they want to win," Head Coach Dave Tippett said following last week's 5-1 victory in Arizona. "They're good people. They want to play hard. They want to play the right way. They know they have to do their part, which is a big part with our team.
"You love their attitude, love their commitment to helping our team win."
In order to win, McDavid - like his German counterpart - is expected to generate offence and put the puck in the net.
Spoiler alert: they have.
But if you needed a glimpse of the Oilers captain's humility, here's a quote from McDavid on the eve of the 2021 season:
"For some guys, shooting the puck comes really easy.For others, it doesn't.I would follow in the category where it doesn't."
Just a quick reminder: McDavid is a five-time 30-goal scorer, twice hitting 41 in his career so far. His 195 goals since entering the league in 2015 were sixth-most heading into this season.
"I obviously want to shoot the puck more, I want to score more goals (this year)," McDavid said on Monday. "I'm just playing the game, trying to create chances, make plays."

When an athlete, especially an elite one, puts their mind to something, you can bet they won't stop until significant progress is made (if they ever do stop in the first place).
Take McDavid's favourite player growing up, who is also a generational talent and all-time great.
"Crosby's a great example. He comes in as a young player and was struggling on faceoffs," Tippett said. "He worked on faceoffs. Worked on his backhand.
"Connor is no different. He's always trying to add stuff to his game. He's worked on his faceoffs, he's worked on shooting the puck, he's worked on one-timers. That's what those players do. They're looking to expand what they can do and where they're expanding is at a really high space already. He's trying to get better but the standard where he's starting from is different from a lot of players."
While McDavid has worked relentlessly on his shot, he continues to fall under the category of a playmaker - a great player who makes the players around him better. Take Zach Hyman, for example. He is a player who came to Edmonton having played alongside exceptional talents in Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, John Tavares and William Nylander in Toronto.
Hyman is fresh off scoring consecutive multi-goal games on the latest road trip, achieving the feat for the first time since 2011 when he was with the Hamilton Red Wings of the OJHL. His linemate for both of those games: Connor McDavid.
"He creates so much space," Hyman said to the media on Monday. "When he has the puck, you can start skating because you know he's either going to catch up to you or get ahead of you. And you can find lanes and passing lanes because he creates a lot of one on one matchups and he usually wins those. Reading and reacting off his speed is something that is very unique to him. He's a pretty special player."

The two have shown early chemistry on the Oilers top line. They skated with each other, along with Jesse Puljujarvi, during the Oilers informal skates heading into training camp and even worked out together in the summer. It was in the gym where Hyman got a feel for what makes McDavid special.
"Just training with him and seeing how hard he works and how dedicated he is to the game and to making himself the best version of himself," he said. "I think when you have that much skill and natural ability, it could be easy to lay off the gas but I think for a guy like him, he's somebody who pushes himself every single day. I think it starts there. He's a very unique player."
However, the extra work doesn't stop in the off-season. Since training camp started, it seems like McDavid has spent extra time after practice working on a different element of his game. Originally, it was stick-handling through scattered pucks on the ice. Then it progressed to his one-time shot from the top of the right circle. We actually witnessed a direct result of his relentless work ethic here with a one-timer in this season's first Battle of Alberta:

Lately, he's been working with Oilers skating coach David Pelletier post-practice, alongside Jesse Puljujarvi and Zack Kassian.

Here is the best player in the world, the best skater in the world working on different elements of skating. Day in and day out. This should be a message to all, young and old, that you're never too good to practice. You're never too good at something. You can never be too good to refine your skills. It's this level of work ethic and determination that allows someone to become truly elite.
"As good of a player he is, he's always striving to get better," Tippett said. "You see him out there after practice today, he's working with David Pelletier. Puck work and edge work, he does it all the time. He's a very driven athlete. He wants to get better but he wants to make sure that his base is in play so he can be as good as he can be. He has an unbelievable work ethic. It rubs off on everybody."
Some would call McDavid's skating a skill.
EA Sports NHL 22 calls it a "Superstar X-Factor."
Some may even call it a superpower.
And to quote a superhero movie:"With great power, comes great responsibility."
Tippett shared on Monday: "The expectations are huge. The thing that's always fascinated me about those guys, and I played a year with Mario (Lemieux), is they accept the pressure of being a top player. It's hard being a top player every night. Connor is in that group. Leon is in that group. That expectation factor of being great every night, the pressure to go out there and do it is another element that a lot of players don't ever get to.
"The ability for them to get to and exceed those expectations is pretty remarkable to watch."

You can argue that McDavid has had that pressure since being granted exceptional status as a 15-year-old in the OHL - probably even earlier than that. Like a bullet in a gun, however, McDavid seemingly performs under intense pressure (and skates as fast as one).
We're only five games in. I've seen local and national TV networks and radio stations bring up "Connor McDavid" and "150 points" in the same sentence frequently over the last few days.
Can it be done? Remains to be seen.
Who can spark a conversation like that just five games in?
Only a generational talent, of course.