The 2025-26 season could be the greatest of Connor McDavid’s illustrious career. He’s off to represent Canada at the Olympic Games in Milan-Cortina, Italy, and he is currently the best player on what could be the best team in the world. McDavid is also leading the NHL in scoring at the break with 96 points in 58 games.
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He is currently three points ahead of superstar Canadian forward Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche. You could almost say the same thing about MacKinnon – that this could also be his dream season, but that’s another article for another day.
Winning Gold for Canada Could Push McDavid to New Heights
For a player described as one of the greatest of all time, the only honours alluding McDavid are Olympic gold and a Stanley Cup ring. Who’s to say this isn’t McDavid’s year? He could become the ninth player to have won Olympic gold and the Stanley Cup in the same season. The list of the Olympic gold/Stanley Cup double double in the same season is impressive and includes: Brendan Shanahan and Steve Yzerman in 2002 (Canada/Detroit Red Wings); Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook and Jonathan Toews in 2010 (Canada/Chicago Blackhawks); Jeff Carter and Drew Doughty in 2014 (Canada/Los Angeles Kings) and Ken Morrow in 1980 (USA/New York Islanders).
McDavid May Need Some Luck To Make It Happen
The Oilers currently sit in second place in the Pacific Division and limped into the Olympic break losing two straight games. There’s been talk about replacing the coaching staff, weak goaltending and weakness in every facet of the lineup. The great part of all the speculation is it’s just that. It’s only February, and many are writing the Oilers off even though there’s a full month and a half of hockey ahead, not to mention the NHL trade deadline on March 6.
If skeptics think McDavid may have played too much hockey over the past two seasons and is tired, you have to take into account that most of the star players in the NHL are feeling the same — especially with last season’s 4 Nations Face-Off and the long grind of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. I believe McDavid and his good friend Leon Driasaitl representing Germany, will come back refreshed and rejuvenated from their Olympic Games experience.
Oilers GM Stan Bowman Has Some Work To Do To Help McDavid Thrive
Like any team, one player can’t win it all. For the Oilers to be successful down the stretch, general manager Stan Bowman has to make some calculated tweaks to his lineup to help bolster McDavid and the Oilers chances of hoisting the Stanley Cup in June. First of all, Bowman and head coach Kris Knoblauch have to get on the same page regarding the deployment of ice time and who should and shouldn’t be in the lineup.
Related: Former Oilers Forward Calls Out Knoblauch Over Player Deployment
Considering how Bowman has flown under the radar with trades for Vasily Podkolzin and Jake Walman, you never know what he has up his sleeve this season. Would he even consider a few moves to try and get goalie Jesper Wallstedt from the Minnesota Wild? It’s crazy to think that the Wild are even considering trading the young netminder, but his name has appeared on some trade boards recently. It’ll be interesting to see who McDavid has for teammates once the smoke clears in early March. The biggest need might be on defence for the Oilers; we’ll see what happens. One thing is clear: the pressure’s on Bowman to deliver, especially right now during McDavid and Draisaitl’s prime years.
Could This Be McDavid’s Dream Season?
There’s really not much stopping McDavid from reaching his dreams of Olympic and Stanley Cup glory this season. He has literally improved his game and, at times, has looked unstoppable. There’s no reason to believe he won’t take the current pace he’s on into the Olympic Games for Canada and continue the momentum for the Oilers once the NHL season resumes in late February. For a player who has won a Conn Smythe Trophy and scored the winning goal in the 4 Nations Face-Off, there’s no reason to believe he can’t make it to the top of the mountain in 2026.
