Connor McDavid puts the NHL on notice as his latest Oilers run sparks a major conversation

Connor McDavid has joined Wayne Gretzky, Mike Bossy, and Mario Lemieux in an exclusive NHL scoring club after recording 31 points in his first 10 games of the 2026–27 season, and the Edmonton Oilers captain reached the milestone with a five-point performance in a 6–5 shootout victory over the Carolina Hurricanes on October 22.McDavid’s tally includes eight goals and 23 assists, making his start one of the most productive opening stretches in NHL history. The 29-year-old also surpassed Gretzky’s previous Edmonton franchise benchmark for points through the first 10 games of a season.Connor McDavid joins NHL legends after historic Edmonton Oilers startConnor McDavid became the fourth player in NHL history to record at least 30 points in the first 10 games of a season. He reached the milestone during Edmonton’s 6–5 shootout win over the Carolina Hurricanes, finishing the night with two goals and three assists.McDavid’s fifth point against Carolina came as he helped set up Leon Draisaitl’s power-play goal. He later scored again to tie the game at 5–5 with less than two minutes remaining in regulation, before Edmonton secured the victory in a shootout.The performance marked his third five-point game of the season. McDavid had previously recorded five points against the Vancouver Canucks on October 1 and the Utah Mammoth on October 17. His consistent production has helped him open the campaign with a point in each of Edmonton’s first 10 games.Which NHL legends achieved the milestone before McDavid?McDavid joins three legendary players who have hit 30 points in their first 10 games of a season in three different eras of NHL scoring.Wayne Gretzky: 30 points in 10 games for Edmonton Oilers in 1984-85.Mike Bossy: Also hit 30 points in the first 10 games of the 1984-85 season with the New York Islanders.Mario Lemieux: Did it three times with the Pittsburgh Penguins, in 1988-89, 1992-93 and 1995-96.Lemieux remains the standout in this category, having recorded 37 points through the first 10 games of the 1988–89 season, and McDavid’s 31-point total places him among the most prolific opening stretches in league history, although it does not surpass Lemieux’s mark.What does Connor McDavid’s historic NHL start mean for Edmonton?McDavid’s early production has given the Edmonton Oilers a major offensive boost. He is averaging 3.1 points per game, and that rate would translate to 260 points across an 84-game regular season if maintained. That figure is a projection, not a prediction, and sustaining such production over a full campaign would be an extraordinary challenge.Draisaitl, McDavid’s longtime teammate, praised the captain’s form after the Carolina game. According to NHL.com, Draisaitl described McDavid’s production as “just not real” and said it was a pleasure to share the ice with him. The comment reflected the remarkable level of performance McDavid has delivered early in the season.McDavid has also set a new Edmonton franchise benchmark for points through the first 10 games, moving beyond Gretzky’s previous mark of 30 in 1984–85. The milestone adds another chapter to his career with the Oilers, where he has played throughout his NHL career since being selected first overall in the 2015 draft.The immediate challenge is sustaining his production as opponents adjust their defensive plans, and McDavid’s speed, playmaking, and ability to create scoring opportunities have made him difficult to contain, but the remaining schedule will test whether he can continue at anything close to his current rate.For the Oilers, his form offers an encouraging start to the season, particularly when combined with Draisaitl’s contributions, and Edmonton’s 6–5 shootout win over Carolina showed how McDavid’s production can influence close games, with his late tying goal helping the team extend the contest.McDavid’s 31 points are already a historic achievement, regardless of what follows. The Oilers captain is off to one of the most sensational starts to the 2026–27 NHL season and is in elite company with Gretzky, Bossy and Lemieux. Whether he can challenge more scoring records is a question that remains to be answered and depends on his continued production, his health and the Oilers performance over the months ahead.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.