There’s something funny happening in Edmonton. Connor McDavid is putting up numbers that seem to belong in a video game, and people are already talking about them as if this is just another day at the office. That’s probably the most interesting part of his incredible start.

McDavid has 31 points in 10 games. His teammates are amazed, the analysts are running out of superlatives, and even young players like Toronto Maple Leafs rookie Gavin McKenna are finding it hard to believe what they’re seeing. McKenna has now had a taste of the NHL himself, which makes his reaction all the more interesting.

He’s discovering that playing against the best in the world is one thing. Watching McDavid do things that nobody else seems capable of doing is something else entirely.

When Greatness Becomes the Expectation

Here’s what interests me about McDavid’s start. When a player produces at this level, the conversation changes. We stop asking whether he can have a big night and start wondering why he didn’t have one. That’s a funny burden to put on anybody, even the best player in the world.

Zach Hyman has called McDavid’s numbers video-game territory, while acknowledging that the pace probably won’t last. That’s a sensible way to look at it. McDavid doesn’t have to score 260 points to have a remarkable season. He doesn’t even have to come close.

What he’s doing right now is a reminder that extraordinary players can stretch our understanding of what’s possible. It doesn’t mean we should immediately turn a brilliant 10-game run into a prediction about the rest of the season.

The Bigger Question for Edmonton

There’s another side to this story. McDavid’s production is helping the Oilers win, but Edmonton’s 8-1-1 record matters just as much to the team’s bigger ambitions. A superstar can carry a club a long way. Eventually, though, the supporting cast has to do its share. Opponents will adjust, the odd bounce will go the other way, and there will be nights when McDavid doesn’t find the scoresheet.

That’s when we’ll learn something about this Oilers team. For now, McDavid is doing what great players do. He’s making difficult things look easy, giving his teammates a lift, and providing fans with something special to watch. His humility, as Hyman describes it, is a nice part of the story, too. He seems more interested in winning than counting his points.

Oilers Fans and Hockey Fans Everywhere Should Enjoy Watching McDavid

So let’s enjoy the show without getting carried away with the projections. Gretzky’s records can wait.

The real treat is watching a player remind us why we fell in love with hockey in the first place. Sometimes, you don’t need to predict history. You can simply appreciate greatness while it’s happening.

Related: Gretzky, McDavid & Matthews: Are We Comparing the Wrong Numbers?