Draisaitl Marvels at McDavid's Torrid Scoring Start
Connor McDavid has 31 points in 10 games, and Leon Draisaitl described the start as unreal. McDavid recorded five points in Edmonton's 6-5 shootout win over Carolina, setting up both Draisaitl goals. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins returned from a lower-body injury and said McDavid keeps raising his level.
McDavid’s 31 points consist of eight goals and 23 assists, a scoring rate that projects to 260 across an 84-game schedule. That would dwarf Wayne Gretzky’s 215-point mark from 1985-86, set in 80 games. Against Carolina, McDavid produced two goals and three assists, including helpers on both Draisaitl tallies and a power-play setup for Nugent-Hopkins.
Nugent-Hopkins appeared for the first time this season after a lower-body injury kept him out of nine games. Edmonton improved to 8-1-1 and owns the league’s top points percentage at .850; Draisaitl ranks second in scoring with 21 points.
McDavid’s early scoring surge may draw casual fans and increase attention to Oilers games, benefiting broadcasters, fantasy hockey participants, and Edmonton-area businesses tied to game-day traffic. Nugent-Hopkins’s return could reassure fans concerned about injury depth, while the team’s strong start may heighten local civic pride. Because the sample is only ten games, any broader social or economic effect could remain modest and short-lived unless the pace continues.