Connor McDavid's Greatest Challenge Yet

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Kevin
September 6, 2023 (11:25 PM)

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Connor McDavid is entering his 9th NHL season. Last year accumulating a career high of 153pts in 82 games he's in the prime of his career with his 1.86 points per game accumulation.

McDavid doesn't compare to anyone in the league. Although there's one that many consider to be the greatest of all, Wayne Gretzky. Which brings the question up, can Connor McDavid, entering his 9th NHL season, get more points then Gretzky did in his 9th NHL season? If anyone can, McDavid would be the one to do it.

Ironically Gretzky was also 26 years old entering his 9th NHL season as McDavid is. Both players also being born in January. Gretzky ammassed 109pts in his 9th season. (1987/88). Gretzky got those 109pts while only playing in 64 games. That's 1.70 points per game. For arguments sake I'm going to do this comparison assuming both players played 82 games. This gives Gretzky 139pts in his 9th season.

Looking at McDavid's 8 seasons, he's only played 82 games, a full season, 3 times. Leaving out McDavids first season of 45 games, his 2019/20 season, he played 64 games and his 2020/21 season, he played in 56 games. Before McDavid's career high of 153pts last season, his previous 2 highest season point totals were 123pts (80 games in 2021/22), and 116pts(78 games in 2018/19).
Injuries aside, because we're basing this on a 82 games played battle with best points per game and 82 games being played, can McDavid, entering his 9th NHL season beat Gretzky's 9th season total of 139 points?