Connor McDavid's path to Wayne Gretzky's points record: Can the Oilers captain make NHL history?
Wayne Gretzky's career point total — 2,857 — has long been considered hockey's most unbreakable record. Across 1,487 NHL regular-season games, 'The Great One' scored 894 goals and recorded 1,963 assists, dominating an era when goal-scoring exploded.
The 1980s saw Gretzky surpass the 200-point mark four times, with league scoring averages often exceeding 7.5 goals per game. In today's NHL, where the average sits closer to 6.0, matching that level of production presents a far steeper challenge.
How realistic is it for
Connor McDavid
to catch Wayne Gretzky's untouchable points record?
Connor McDavid has been rewriting the modern offensive playbook. Through 712 games, the Edmonton Oilers captain has tallied 361 goals and 721 assists for 1,082 points — an astounding pace in the current low-scoring climate.
At just 28 years old, McDavid has already topped 120 points in three of the last four seasons, showing no signs of slowing down.
While McDavid's production is elite, the numbers reveal the monumental scale of the task. Over his career, McDavid averages about 125 points per season. Gretzky's pace? Around 158 per year — even after factoring in his final seasons during the so-called 'dead puck era.'
To pass Gretzky's 2,857 points, McDavid would need another 1,775 points.
At his current pace, that's more than 14 additional seasons, or roughly 1,165 games, with no significant decline. This would require him to remain productive into his early 40s, in an Ovechkin-like career marathon. Realistically, the physical demands and inevitable drop in production make this almost impossible.
The more attainable milestone: Oilers' all-time points leader
While Gretzky's all-time NHL mark may remain out of reach, McDavid is well within striking distance of another historic achievement — becoming Edmonton's all-time franchise points leader.
Gretzky's Oilers record stands at 1,669 points, meaning McDavid needs just 587 more. At his current pace, he could surpass that within five seasons.
Of course, one key factor remains — his contract. McDavid's current deal expires on July 1, 2026, and securing an extension will be crucial if he hopes to cement that title in an Oilers uniform.
Also Read:
'Pretty dumb': Fans revolt as NHL turns its 'heritage' Stadium Series into a Florida marketing stunt
Breaking Gretzky's NHL record might be a dream too far, but McDavid's legacy as one of the game's greatest scorers is already secure — and his chase for franchise history is very much alive.
Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
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