Connor McDavid will be under a microscope in his first NHL season. That’s putting things rather lightly as McDavid has already drawn comparisons to Wayne Gretzky before even skating in his first game with the Edmonton Oilers. Heading into the new season, fans are trying to predict how many goals and how many points McDavid will post as a rookie. Answers have varied significantly, but McDavid is trying to ignore the numbers side of the game.
The youngster recently spoke with NHL.com and stated he doesn’t have any specific goals when it comes to his numbers in his first season.
“I just want to be the best player I can be. I think when you start putting numbers in your head it can really mess with you. That’s the last thing you want.
Numbers are one thing, but some of the best games I have ever played have been games in which I didn’t get a point or maybe had one point. You don’t necessarily have to put up a lot of points to be impactful. There are lots of ways you can impact a game, and that is something I take a lot of pride in, trying to impact the game in any way possible.”
McDavid’s comments aren’t exactly surprising – it’d be foolish to forecast a number as he’ll ultimately be judged harshly regardless of what it is – but it is potentially a wise answer beyond his years. At 18, McDavid appears to have a wise head on his shoulders which is a necessary trait for a young, talented hockey player to have.
We’ll have to wait and see how McDavid performs in his first year, but so far he appears to be entering the year with the correct mentality.
