What did Edmonton do to deserve Draisaitl’s Connor McDavid?

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Admit it, Edmonton Oil Companies fans, sometimes you take it for granted.

You promised you wouldn’t do that. You know you shouldn’t do that. But sometimes your mind wanders and you lose perspective on what you’re actually seeing here.

In the same city where Wayne Gretzky played, you get the second coming of Wayne Gretzky.

With a side by Mark Messier.

It’s not even fair.

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What did the Oilers gain? Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl? Whatever it was, apart from the many losses and impeccable luck at the lotteries, we were still shaking our heads in awe ten years later.

It happened again last game.

On a quiet Tuesday night at Rogers Place (quiet because of how boring the Oilers-Islanders game was for 40 minutes), McDavid reminded everyone once again why he stands alone as the greatest player of his generation.

The Oilers were leaking oil at home this season, barely hovering around .500 and having just blown a 3-1 lead in the third period. It threatened to become a disaster.

But McDavid sets up an overtime winner for Draisaitl to cap off a four-point night in a 4-3 win to save the day and become one point shy of becoming the fourth-fastest player to reach 1,000 in NHL history .

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Routine stuff, right? That’s because you’re spoiled. Ask Adam Henrique.

“You’ve seen him firsthand for a long time,” said the Oilers forward, who has been a teammate of McDavid’s for less than a year and doubts he’ll ever get used to what he sees every night.

“It still shocks you when he scores certain goals during the match, even if you’re sitting on the bench watching. It’s sometimes breathtaking, the things he does there.

“And it’s not just showing up and playing hockey; there is a lot behind it and he lives with it day to day. He puts a lot of pressure on himself to be the best and get better somehow.

It’s hard to imagine him somehow getting better. How good do you have to be to have already cemented your place on hockey’s Mount Rushmore when you’re just halfway through your career and don’t have a championship yet?

McDavid good. And it’s a level that only a handful of players have ever seen.

When all is said and done, he’ll likely narrow that Mount Rushmore four down to a top two: him and Gretzky.

As Leon Draisaitl put it, “This isn’t greatness, this is legendary stuff” we’re talking about here.

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The 27-year-old has reached a point in his game where superlatives sound trite.

Best player in the world? Duh.

One of the greatest players of all time? Yes, we know that.

He’s at the point where words can no longer do him justice.

Just put it outside and appreciate what you’re looking at.

“I probably didn’t use him enough in the first two periods, but in the third period he was there almost every second shift,” said head coach Kris Knoblauch, who could tell McDavid was having one of those nights.

“Yes, four points, but it could have been many more (eight shots on net). When your top players are rolling and feeling good, it’s important that the coach gets them on the ice. They are going to make the difference.”

McDavid admits he felt it, which can be pretty scary when you’re on the other side.

“I don’t want to get off the ice on nights like that,” the captain said. “I felt good. I thought Kris did a great job giving me a lot of opportunities tonight. I felt good and happy that I could contribute to a good victory.”

And then there is Draisaitl. One of the best passers in the game, who also happens to be one of the best shooters. He has three 50-goal seasons and two 40-goal seasons on the bench and is off to the best start of his career with twelve goals in sixteen games.

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On what planet is this someone’s second best player?

“He really stepped up,” Knoblauch said. “He has played well all year, but he especially took it to the next level when Connor was away for a few games. Incredible shot (in extra time), not much room to deploy. There are only a few players who can do that.”

“He really found the back of the net,” McDavid added. “Great shots from him tonight from his usual spot and then from the other end in extra time. Just a great finisher, a great player.”

Draisaitl knows he’s off to a bad start, but he’s seen enough hockey to know that you can never exhale or rest on your laurels or the game will bite you hard.

“You have to be careful with stuff like that because this league humiliates you so damn fast it’s scary,” he said. “I’ve been there long enough to understand that there are phases when things are going well and things get icy.

“I feel good. I feel like I’m playing well and creating chances. Obviously they’re coming in now, but I’m very aware that it could change quickly. I’ll just keep doing it.”

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