With 35 factors (4 targets, 31 assists) in his previous 16 video games, McDavid is making a tough cost for his sixth scoring title with 106 factors (25 targets, 81 assists) in 62 video games, and the middle is on tempo to change into the primary participant to succeed in 100 assists in a season since Wayne Gretzky had 122 with the Los Angeles Kings in 1990-91. 

“As a fan it’s thrilling seeing two of one of the best gamers go head-to head, MacKinnon main the NHL in scoring and also you’ve bought McDavid who’s been in that place many instances,” Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch stated. “As a coach, that’s my first precedence, and it in that facet, we’ve to consider methods to restrict his alternatives, whether or not that’s matchups or system factor. But when we’re going to have success, we’ve to restrict the quantity of alternatives he has.” 

Together with vying for the Artwork Ross Trophy, awarded to the NHL’s factors chief, McDavid and MacKinnon are candidates to win the Hart Trophy as NHL most respected participant.

McDavid is the reigning Hart Trophy winner and in addition gained it in 2020-21 and 2016-17. MacKinnon has by no means gained the Hart, ending as runner-up to Taylor Hall of the New Jersey Devils in 2017-18 and Leon Draisaitl of the Oilers in 2019-20.

MacKinnon did win the Stanley Cup in 2022 with the Avalanche, who swept McDavid and the Oilers within the best-of-7 Western Convention Closing alongside the way in which. 

“He’s very highly effective, very robust, quick,” Edmonton defenseman Darnell Nurse stated of MacKinnon. “He’s the complete package deal as a participant and in case you give him an inch, he appears to make it a foot. For us, after we’re defending we’ve to be fast, we’ve to be shifting our toes and on the identical time, we’ve to concentrate on every little thing else that’s occurring.”