Every once in a while, a player comes along who makes us rethink what is possible in a sport. The Edmonton Oilers’ Connor McDavid has been doing that for years. We’ve watched him skate past defenders, create scoring chances out of almost nothing, and put up numbers that most players can only dream about. So what do we do when he starts making it look even easier?

Through 21 games this season, the Edmonton Oilers captain has 11 goals and 39 assists for 50 points. That’s not just a terrific start. It’s the kind of production that makes you stop and look twice. He’s already broken Wayne Gretzky’s mark as the fastest player to reach 30 assists in a season, and he’s helping push Edmonton back into the conversation as a serious Western Conference contender.

Now people are asking whether the Hart Trophy race is already over.

Is McDavid Already Running Away With the Hart Trophy?

On Daily Faceoff LIVE, Tyler Yaremchuk and Carter Hutton discussed whether McDavid has put himself in a position where the award is his to lose. Yaremchuk suggested that, if McDavid stays healthy, the trophy is already his. Hutton agreed, pointing out that what’s so impressive isn’t simply the scoring. It’s that McDavid has found another level after already establishing himself as the best player in the game.

That’s the part I find most interesting. We’ve become so accustomed to McDavid producing at an extraordinary rate that we may have stopped appreciating how difficult it is to keep doing it. Defences know what’s coming. Opponents build their game plans around stopping him. And yet, 21 games into the season, he’s averaging almost 2.5 points a night.

The Most Impressive Part May Be What’s Still Ahead

I’m not ready to hand out the Hart Trophy in November. Injuries, slumps, and plenty of hockey left to play. Other players will make their cases, and a lot can change over a full season. But McDavid has put himself in a remarkable position. He’s not just leading the scoring race. He’s making the Oilers a better team while doing it.

There’s also something worth remembering here. McDavid has already won the Hart Trophy three times. He’s accomplished just about everything an individual player can accomplish. Yet he doesn’t seem satisfied with simply being great.

That’s what makes watching him so much fun. We keep wondering what the next level looks like, and somehow he keeps giving us a glimpse. The Hart Trophy race may not be over, but McDavid has certainly made everyone else chase him.

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