Connor McDavid has turned heads across the National Hockey League even more than usual to start the season with his torrid scoring pace. The Edmonton Oilers superstar has recorded 23 points through eight games, including two five-point outings, to lead the NHL in scoring by a healthy margin. But McDavid says he’s not paying attention to his stockpiling of points, which has him on pace for more than 240. Only one NHL player has ever surpassed 200 points in a season: Wayne Gretzky, who did it four times during his legendary career. “I care more about how the game looks overall and how it feels out there, and it’s been good at times,” McDavid told reporters Monday after practice at Rogers Place as the Oilers prepared to host the Minnesota Wild the following night. “There have been times where I feel I can do more, and everyone can do more, so that’s more important.” In the Oilers’ most recent game, a 6-2 win Saturday over the Utah Mammoth, McDavid recorded his second five-point game of the young season. The performance came after Edmonton’s first regulation loss of the season Thursday against the same Mammoth. Whether No. 97’s output has ramped up because of extra time alongside fellow superstar Leon Draisaitl is up for debate. Draisaitl was pegged to centre his own line to start the 2026-27 campaign but has instead spent much of the Oilers’ 6-1-1 start next to the captain. McDavid said playing with his longtime teammate “has been so much fun.” He’s also enjoying playing with the rest of the top unit, including winger Vasily Podkolzin, who has scored seven goals among his 11 points, and defencemen Evan Bouchard, whose 16 points are tied for third in NHL scoring, and Mattias Ekholm. For his part, Draisaitl is tied with three others for sixth in league scoring with six goals and eight assists for 14 points. “Being out there with those five guys, everybody knows where each other is,” McDavid said. “Everybody’s reading off each other, playing fast, and everyone can make a play. It’s a pretty fun group to be out there with.” Head coach Mike Babcock said he’s unsure whether he’ll split up McDavid and Draisaitl when other top-six forwards such as Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Matt Savoie return to the lineup. “I’m just going to just be like you guys; I’m going to watch, and I’m going sort it out as time goes on,” Babcock told reporters. “Right now, though, it’s worked good for us on most nights so far.” Tuesday’s game against the Wild at Rogers Place begins a five-game homestand for the Oilers, who will also face the defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday, the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday, the Detroit Red Wings on Oct. 26 and the Calgary Flames on Oct. 28.
