Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid made NHL history Tuesday night, becoming the fastest player in league history to reach 20 assists in a single season as he continued his remarkable start to the 2026-27 campaign.
ABSOLUTELY ABSURD!!! 🍎 https://t.co/ZBw1ywoHTF
— NHL (@NHL) October 21, 2026
McDavid recorded three assists in Edmonton’s 4-3 overtime victory over the Minnesota Wild, reaching the 20-assist milestone in just nine games. The achievement further cemented the superstar’s status as one of the most dominant offensive players the NHL has ever seen.
The three-time Hart Trophy winner now leads the league with 26 points through the first nine games of the regular season, putting him on pace for a potentially historic year.
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McDavid chasing Gretzky’s unbreakable records
If McDavid maintains his current scoring pace, he could challenge some of Wayne Gretzky’s most celebrated single-season records.
The Oilers captain is projected to finish the 84-game season with an astonishing 242 points, which would shatter Gretzky’s long-standing record of 215 points, established during the 1985-86 season.
McDavid is also on pace to rewrite the NHL record books in the assists category. His current trajectory projects him to record 182 assists, comfortably surpassing Gretzky’s single-season record of 163, another benchmark that has stood for decades.
Although maintaining such an extraordinary pace throughout an entire season will be a significant challenge, McDavid’s early performances have already put the hockey world on notice.
The Edmonton captain previously recorded his career-high 153 points during the 2022-23 season, finishing with 64 goals and 89 assists. His current production suggests he could surpass that total by a substantial margin if he continues performing at this level.
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Oilers off to a strong start
McDavid’s historic individual performance has helped Edmonton establish itself as an early contender this season. The Oilers have opened the 2026-27 campaign with a 7-1-1 record, demonstrating impressive consistency through their first nine games.
The team will look to carry that momentum into its next matchup on Thursday against the Carolina Hurricanes, the defending Stanley Cup champions.
With McDavid producing points at a record-breaking rate, the Oilers have every reason to be optimistic about their chances this season.
While the campaign remains in its early stages, McDavid is already generating excitement around the possibility of surpassing records once considered untouchable. If his incredible start is any indication, the NHL could be witnessing one of the greatest offensive seasons in hockey history.
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