In some respects, you can make the case the 2023-24 campaign represented a regression for Connor McDavid. He failed to take home either the Art Ross Trophy, Hart Memorial Trophy or Ted Lindsay Award, one season after winning them all.
However, if there was any doubt about how good McDavid still was, it was answered emphatically during the playoffs. He easily led all players with 42 points -- including an NHL record 34 assists -- and won the Conn Smythe for playoff MVP, albeit after a less than ideal ending to his season.
For anyone wondering if McDavid was still the best player in the game, he removed all doubt during the Oilers' run to the Stanley Cup Final. As a result, there is no surprise he has been ranked first in the NHL Network's top 20 centres right now:
Presenting the Top 20 Centers Right Now! Thoughts? 🧐#NHLTopPlayers | @NHL pic.twitter.com/r8GS5JFgp6
— NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) August 21, 2024
Sometimes, it has to be admitted McDavid's greatness is taken for granted, because he performs regularly at such a superlative level. However, when you see him above the likes of Nathan MacKinnon and Auston Matthews -- two tremendous centres in their own right -- it helps remind you of just how special number 97 truly is.
Consider that MacKinnon took home his first ever Hart Memorial Trophy and Ted Lindsay Award this past season, and is only two years removed from winning the Stanley Cup. Meanwhile, Matthews easily led the NHL with 69 goals and in fact leads the league in this category overall since he started playing in 2016-17.
A top line centre on almost any other team
To say the Oilers are blessed is an understatement, and this only becomes reinforced when you see Leon Draisaitl at number four in the top 20. He finished the 2023-24 campaign with 106 points and it speaks volumes that this could almost be considered an off-season for him, as it was his fewest points in a full 82-game season since 2018-19.
As with his teammate, Draisaitl had an excellent playoff run and finished third among all players with 31 points, And you have to wonder if he could have done even better, if he hadn't been playing through an injury for the majority of the playoffs.
Regardless, the Oilers continue to contend in large part due to their enviable strength at the centre position. Further, consider that as a whole, McDavid and Draisaitl rank first and second in regular season points among all NHL players since 2015-16, with 982 and 841 respectively.
Of course, as good as things are right now, there is a potential dark cloud looming. Draisaitl is set to become an unrestricted free agent after the 2024-25 season, followed by McDavid a year later.
The majority of signs seem to point towards the duo both signing long-term contract extensions in Edmonton, but Oilers fans know better than anyone to never take anything for granted. For now though, they can continue to enjoy watching a team containing the best player in the world and another who is regularly in the top 5-10.
N.B. All statistics courtesy of NHL.com