January 3, 2023 by Eric Friesen

Edmonton Oilers superstar Connor McDavid enjoyed the best calendar year of his hockey career in 2022. McDavid recorded an NHL-best 143 points in 87 games, becoming the first player to record 140 or more points in consecutive calendar years since Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux in 1988 and 1989.

McDavid also joined Gordie Howe and Gretzky as the only players in NHL history with four Art Ross Trophies at age 25 or younger. And most importantly, McDavid had a playoff performance for the ages and led the Oilers to the Western Conference Final for the first time in 16 years.

As the calendar turns to January, McDavid has an opportunity to make even more history in 2023. Here are five records and milestones McDavid can reach this year.

50 multi-point games

McDavid is an offensive machine who can generate scoring chances at will. He not only has the ability to get his name on the scoresheet night-after-night, but he typically produces multiple points, too.

The 25-year-old phenom currently leads the league in multi-point efforts with 20 through 38 contests this season, including 10 three-point games and eighth four-point games (he leads the league in each of these categories as well). McDavid currently on pace for 43 multi-point games, which is two off his career-high that he set last season.

Throughout his NHL career, McDavid has elevated his level of play down the stretch drive, so it’s reasonable to think his already incredible pace is about to increase. McDavid could join Gretzky and Lemieux as the only players in NHL history to record 50 multi-point games in a single season.

After breaking the NHL record for most multi-point games in one playoff series last spring, McDavid has continued to build off that performance in the regular season.

70 goals

When listing the best goal scorers in the NHL, McDavid’s name might not be one of the first to come to mind for many hockey observers, because he’s viewed as a playmaker first and foremost. However, McDavid is the only NHL player who has scored 30 goals in each of the past seven seasons, despite two pandemic shortened campaigns.

McDavid also ranks third in the league in goals since 2016-17 with 255, behind only Alex Ovechkin (281) and Auston Matthews (277). The Oilers captain is off to a torrid pace this year with 32 goals in his first 38 games, putting him on pace for 69 markers in a full 82-game schedule.

It seemed likely that McDavid would score 50 goals for the first time in 2022-23, but as we approach the midway point of the regular season, there’s a real chance he could push for 70. McDavid could become only the ninth player in NHL history to reach the 70-goal plateau and the first since Teemu Selanne and Alexander Mogilny in 1992-93.

Related: Can Connor McDavid win the Rocket Richard Trophy this season?

While he’s likely always going to be a pass-first guy, McDavid’s willingness to be a little more selfish and shoot more this season, has made him an even greater offensive threat.

Five Art Ross Trophies

If healthy, McDavid is a lock to win his five Art Ross Trophy as scoring champion. The Newmarket, Ontario native currently has an 18-point lead on his next closest non-teammate in the scoring race.

In April, McDavid will almost certainly join Howe, Phil Esposito, Gretzky, Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr as the only players in NHL history with five Art Ross Trophies. He’s won the scoring title in more seasons that hasn’t won it since entering the league in 2015-16.

McDavid is in a class of his own.

80 power-play points

McDavid, who leads the league with 37 power-play points this year, would rank 35th in the NHL on his production with the man advantage alone. He’s well on his way to shattering Gretzky’s franchise record for most power-play points in a single season with 57.

But as the best player in the world on the most deadly power-play in NHL history (at the moment), McDavid become only the second player in NHL history to put up 80 power-play points in a single season and the first since Lemieux in 1987-88.

Lemieux had 70 or more power-play points three time during his legendary career. No one else in the history of the game has ever had more than 64 power-play points in a season before.

When a player of McDavid’s ilk is given added space to work his magic in the offensive zone, there is a chance he could take a run at Lemieux’s record.

150 points

When you consider all of the milestones McDavid is within striking distance of reaching this season, none would be more significant than putting up 150 points in a single season. It’s one of the most exclusive clubs in NHL history with just five members, including Gretzky (nine times), Lemieux (four times), Steve Yzerman (one time), Esposito (one time) and Bernie Nicholls (one time).

The five-time 100-point scorer could become the first player to record 150 points in a single season since Lemieux in 1995-96. McDavid, who is on pace for 155 points, needs 78 points in the final 44 games this season to become the first new member of the 150-point club since 1988-89.

It would be the greatest single-season accomplishment by an NHL player in the salary cap era, and very likely the most impressive feat by any North American team sport athlete in the 21st century.