A two-time Hart Trophy winner, you would’ve thought Connor McDavid had done it all in the regular season already. But the best player in the game achieved a notable mark for the first time on Monday night: scoring 50 goals.
Yes, despite all the accolades and prolific scoring from his career to this point, the incredible McDavid had not yet potted 50 goals in a season. And as he steamrolls his way to a third career Hart Trophy, it’s worth noting McDavid did this in 61 games.
Even in a 3-2 loss to the Boston Bruins, it’s still something to see the Edmonton Oilers center outdo his own on-ice magic:
5️⃣0️⃣ goals in 6⃣1⃣ games for 9⃣7⃣ 🤯 pic.twitter.com/m2iLKXB1RY
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) February 28, 2023
McDavid’s first time reaching the half-century mark for goals (along with at least 65 assists) in 61 games is also among the fastest in league history. It puts him in the company of some real legends:
Hitting the 50 goal mark Monday, @EdmontonOilers captain Connor McDavid needed only 61 games to do so. Already with an impressive 65 assists, he sits tied for the 6th fastest path to such a combination of goal scoring and playmaking on this list (one going back almost 4 decades) pic.twitter.com/loJzkUWMVk
— StatsCentre (@StatsCentre) February 28, 2023
But McDavid is a professional hockey player, and pro hockey players are known for focusing on keeping their noses to the ground whenever they can. So when the Oilers star was asked about what it meant to reach 50 goals, his answer was hilariously on brand:
"It's just a number."
Connor McDavid chats with @GenePrincipe during the 2nd intermission about hitting 50 goals on the season. pic.twitter.com/IdYUirHWMK
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) February 28, 2023
I think I’ll speak for McDavid on this one: 50 goals is decidedly not just a number. It’s the latest hallowed accomplishment in a young career that is seemingly only growing in scope by the year.