For the first time since the 1989-90 season, an Edmonton Oiler has won a major award. Connor McDavid, in just his second season in the NHL, has won the Art Ross Trophy as the NHL’s leading scoring.
McDavid entered tonight’s game against the Vancouver Canucks with a nine point lead on Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby, and was the only NHL player to reach the 90 point mark this season. In all, McDavid finished the season with 100 points, the most by an Oiler since Doug Weight’s 104 points during the 1995-96 season.
McDavid becomes just the second Oiler to ever win the award, joining Wayne Gretzky. Gretzky won the award seven times with the Oilers, winning it every year from 1980-81 through 1986-87.
The last major award won by an Oiler player was when Mark Messier won the Hart Memorial Trophy following the 1989-90 season. While nothing has been announced obviously, McDavid is certainly the favorite to win that award as well. That hasn’t happened for the Oilers since 1986-87 when Gretzky won both awards.
Personally, I believe this is a very big moment for the Edmonton Oiler organization. While everyone knows McDavid is a superstar in the NHL, this confirms it. Winning a major award is the coming out party for generational players, and this is Connor’s first. It certainly won’t be his last major award (I think he wins MVP this June), but it’s still an important milestone.
The Edmonton Oilers are back in the playoffs, people are talking about them again, and there is a buzz surrounding this organization. Connor McDavid winning the Art Ross Trophy in just his sophomore season shows that the Oiler organization has arrived once again as a legitimate hockey team.
Don’t underestimate this achievement, it is a pretty damned big deal and should be celebrated.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
