History of Connor McDavid in Timeline

Connor McDavid is a Canadian professional ice hockey player, serving as the captain of the Edmonton Oilers in the NHL. Drafted first overall in 2015, he's recognized as one of the sport's premier talents. His exceptional offensive skills and overall impact have prompted comparisons to the legendary Wayne Gretzky, highlighting his significant influence on the game.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

1982: Wayne Gretzky's Unanimous Hart Memorial Trophy

McDavid is one of only two players, after Wayne Gretzky in 1982, to unanimously win the Hart Memorial Trophy as the league's most valuable player.

1986: Oates's Record

In 1986, Adam Oates set a record when he was involved in the Detroit Red Wings' first seven goals of the season.

1989: Messier's Record

In 1989, Mark Messier recorded at least 17 points through the first 10 games of an NHL season.

1996: Lemieux and Jágr Record

During the 1996–97 season, Mario Lemieux and Jaromír Jágr with the Pittsburgh Penguins were the first teammates to reach 30 goals and 80 points apiece in 55 games.

January 13, 1997: Connor McDavid's Birth

On January 13, 1997, Connor McDavid was born in Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada. He is now a professional ice hockey player.

Others born on this day/year

2001: Otters Reach 100 Points

In March 2014, McDavid's 25th goal of the season helped the Erie Otters reach 100 points as a team for the first time since 2001.

2003: Last Player to win Conn Smythe Trophy without Winning Stanley Cup

In 2024, McDavid became the first player since Jean-Sébastien Giguère in 2003 to win the Conn Smythe Trophy without winning the Stanley Cup.

2005: Sam Gagner's OHL Cup Record

In 2012, McDavid recorded 19 points in seven OHL Cup games, the most by any player since Sam Gagner recorded 17 points in five games during the 2005 tournament.

2005: John Tavares Granted Exceptional Player Status

McDavid was the third OHL player to be granted exceptional player status, following John Tavares in 2005.

2006: Oilers last Stanley Cup Finals appearance

In 2023, McDavid captained the Oilers to the Stanley Cup Finals, marking their first appearance since 2006.

2009: Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament

In 2009, McDavid participated in the Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with his York Simcoe team, which also featured Sam Bennett.

2011: Joined Toronto Marlboros

In 2011, McDavid left the York Simcoe Express to join the Toronto Marlboros of the Greater Toronto Hockey League (GTHL).

2011: Aaron Ekblad Granted Exceptional Player Status

McDavid was the third OHL player to be granted exceptional player status, following Aaron Ekblad in 2011.

April 7, 2012: Selected First Overall by Erie Otters

On April 7, 2012, the Erie Otters selected McDavid first overall in the 2012 OHL Priority Selection.

2012: Granted Exceptional Player Status and Drafted by Erie Otters

In 2012, McDavid was granted exceptional player status by Hockey Canada and subsequently selected first overall by the Erie Otters in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) draft.

2012: GTHL Player of the Year

In 2012, McDavid won the GTHL Player of the Year Award after scoring 33 goals and recording 39 assists in 33 regular season games for the Toronto Marlboros.

2012: Joined the Erie Otters

McDavid joined the Erie Otters for the 2012–13 season, scoring his first OHL goal on September 21st.

March 10, 2013: Franchise Record for Rookie Assists

On March 10, 2013, McDavid picked up his 37th assist of the season, setting a franchise record for rookie assists with the Erie Otters. He also tied Tim Connolly for the most rookie points in Otters history with 62 points.

2013: Otters' Successful Season Start

During the 2013–14 season, the Erie Otters had a strong start, accumulating 25 points in their first 15 games. McDavid contributed with 5 goals and 28 points during this period.

2013: 2013 World U-17 Hockey Challenge

In 2013, Connor McDavid participated in the World U-17 Hockey Challenge, leading Team Ontario with nine points but experiencing a 7–6 loss to Team Pacific. McDavid was named to the tournament all-star team. He also played in the 2013 IIHF World U18 Championships, being the youngest player at 16, and contributed significantly to Canada's victory, earning the titles of Best Forward and Tournament MVP.

2013: Gold Medal at IIHF World U18 Championships

In 2013, McDavid won a gold medal representing Canada at the IIHF World U18 Championships.

2014: Bobby Smith Trophy and CHL Scholastic Player of the Year

At the end of the 2014–15 season, McDavid was recognized with several awards from the OHL and CHL. He won the Bobby Smith Trophy and CHL Scholastic Player of the Year for the second consecutive year.

2014: 2014-15 Season with Erie Otters

During the 2014-15 season, McDavid recorded 120 points and received several OHL and CHL awards, including the Red Tilson Trophy, Wayne Gretzky 99 Award, and CHL Player of the Year awards.

2014: Awards and Honors

In 2014, McDavid received several awards, including the William Hanley Trophy, Bobby Smith Trophy, and CHL Scholastic Player of the Year. He was also named to the OHL Second All-Star Team.

2014: Named Otters Captain and Hand Injury

In 2014, McDavid was named captain of the Erie Otters and later broke his hand in a fight on November 11th, causing him to miss several games.

2014: 2014 World Junior Ice Hockey Championship

In 2014, at 16 years old, McDavid joined the Canadian junior team for the World Junior Ice Hockey Championship. He recorded a goal and three assists, but Canada lost the bronze medal match to Russia.

July 3, 2015: Signed Entry-Level Contract

On July 3, 2015, Connor McDavid signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Edmonton Oilers worth $11.3 million, including potential bonus incentives.

October 9, 2015: NHL Debut

On October 9, 2015, Connor McDavid made his NHL debut with the Edmonton Oilers in a 3–1 loss to the St. Louis Blues. He nearly scored twice but was stopped by Brian Elliott.

2015: Joined the Edmonton Oilers

In 2015, McDavid joined the Edmonton Oilers for the 2015–16 season after concluding his junior hockey career.

2015: Return from Injury and 100th Point of the Season

In 2015, McDavid returned from his hand injury on January 8th. In February he recorded his first OHL hat-trick and reached his 100th point of the season, leading to him being named OHL Player of the Month.

2015: 2015 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships

In 2015, McDavid served as an alternate captain for Canada in the World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. His 11 points tied for first in the tournament, and Canada won the gold medal.

2015: Drafted First Overall by Edmonton Oilers

In 2015, McDavid was selected first overall by the Edmonton Oilers in the NHL entry draft, marking a significant career milestone.

2015: World Junior Ice Hockey Championships Gold Medal

In 2015, McDavid won a gold medal representing Canada at the World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.

October 5, 2016: Named Oilers Captain

On October 5, 2016, Connor McDavid was named the captain of the Edmonton Oilers for the 2016–17 season, becoming the youngest captain in NHL history at 19 years and 266 days old.

December 18, 2016: First Shootout Goal

On December 18, 2016, Connor McDavid scored his first NHL shootout goal against Ben Bishop to help the Edmonton Oilers defeat the Tampa Bay Lightning 3–2.

2016: TSN Hockey's Preseason Fan Poll Ranking

Between 2016 and 2021, McDavid consistently ranked first in TSN Hockey's preseason fan poll of the top 50 players in the NHL.

2016: ESPN Interviews on McDavid's Strengths

In 2016, ESPN interviewed several NHL figures, including Auston Matthews, Ryan Getzlaf, Joe Thornton, and Brendan Gallagher, who highlighted McDavid's speed as a key strength. John Tavares praised his adaptability, and Cam Fowler noted the difficulty in shutting him down.

2016: Meeting Lauren Kyle

In 2016, McDavid met his wife, interior designer Lauren Kyle, on a blind date facilitated by Kyle's cousin and McDavid's then-teammate, Luke Gazdic.

2016: 2016 IIHF World Championship and World Cup of Hockey

In 2016, McDavid participated in the IIHF World Championship, scoring his first goal in the gold-medal match as Canada won the tournament. Also in 2016, he captained Team North America at the World Cup of Hockey, where he had three assists before the team's elimination.

2016: Ceremonial First Pitch at Blue Jays Game

In 2016, McDavid threw out the ceremonial first pitch at a Toronto Blue Jays game, showing his support for the Major League Baseball team.

2016: Named to NHL All-Rookie Team

In 2016, McDavid was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team despite missing three months of his rookie season due to a fractured clavicle.

2016: 2016 IIHF World Championship

In 2016, McDavid won a gold medal with Team Canada at the IIHF World Championship.

March 29, 2017: Oilers Clinch Playoff Berth

On March 29, 2017, the Edmonton Oilers ended a 10-year playoff drought after defeating the Los Angeles Kings, clinching a berth in the 2017 playoffs.

June 21, 2017: Cover Athlete for NHL 18

On June 21, 2017, Electronic Arts announced that McDavid would be the cover athlete for NHL 18, their annual installment of the NHL video game series.

July 5, 2017: Signed Contract Extension

On July 5, 2017, Connor McDavid signed an eight-year, $100 million contract extension with the Edmonton Oilers, set to begin at the start of the 2018–19 season.

2017: McDavid Compared to Crosby

In 2017, Seth Jones described McDavid as "what Crosby was when he was 20" in a survey from the Associated Press, highlighting McDavid's elite status.

2018: 2018 IIHF World Championship

In 2018, McDavid captained Team Canada at the IIHF World Championship in Denmark, recording five goals and 13 points. Canada finished without a medal for the first time since 2014.

2018: Consecutive 41 Goal Seasons

In 2018, McDavid scored 41 goals for the second consecutive year. The Oilers missed the Stanley Cup playoffs for the next two seasons.

2018: Third All-Star Game Appearance

In 2018, McDavid served as the Pacific Division captain at his third consecutive NHL All-Star Game, securing his third Fastest Skater victory with a speed of 13.378 seconds.

2018: Second All-Star Selection

In 2018, McDavid was selected for his second NHL All-Star Game and successfully defended his Fastest Skater title at the Skills Competition with a time of 13.454 seconds.

January 2019: Chiarelli Sacked

In January 2019, Peter Chiarelli was sacked as the general manager of the Oilers due to criticism over his inability to build a competitive team around McDavid.

April 6, 2019: Knee Injury

On April 6, 2019, during the final game of the season, Connor McDavid suffered a severe knee injury after crashing into the Calgary Flames' net. The injury involved a complete tear of the posterior cruciate ligament and other related damages.

2019: Knee Injury

In 2019, McDavid injured his knee in the final game of the 2018–19 season. He underwent nonsurgical rehabilitation to recover.

2019: First Star of the Week

In 2019, McDavid was named the NHL First Star of the Week with 12 points through the first five games of the season.

2019: Injury Prevents Participation in 2019 IIHF World Championship

In 2019, McDavid was slated to play for Canada at the IIHF World Championship, but a leg injury sustained at the end of the NHL season prevented his participation.

2019: NHLPA Best Forward Award

In 2019, the NHLPA voted McDavid the best forward in the league.

2020: 100 Points in Shortened Season

During the 2020–21 season, which was shortened to 56 games due to the COVID-19 pandemic, McDavid recorded 100 points for the fourth time in his career.

2020: House Featured in EDify Magazine

In 2020, McDavid and Kyle's house was featured in EDify magazine, sparking Internet memes due to its minimalist design and view.

2020: Fourth All-Star Game Appearance

In 2020, McDavid made his fourth All-Star Game appearance as captain of the Pacific Division.

2020: NHLPA Best Forward Award

In 2020, the NHLPA voted McDavid the best forward in the league.

January 14, 2021: McDavid scores hat-trick against Canucks

On January 14, 2021, Connor McDavid scored the first hat-trick of the 2020–21 season in a game against the Vancouver Canucks, which the Oilers won 5–2.

May 9, 2021: McDavid reaches 100 points

On May 9, 2021, Connor McDavid reached 100 points in only 53 games during the pandemic-shortened season, in a four-point game against the Vancouver Canucks, making him the fastest player to reach the milestone since Mario Lemieux in the 1995–96 season.

November 23, 2021: McDavid's Point Streak Ends

On November 23, 2021, Connor McDavid's 17-game point streak came to an end in a 4–1 loss to the Dallas Stars. This was the eighth-longest point streak to begin a season in NHL history and the third-longest for the Oilers.

December 2021: NHL Opts Out of 2022 Winter Olympics

In December 2021, the NHL announced that its players would not participate in the 2022 Winter Olympics due to COVID-19 outbreaks.

2021: Gretzky Praises McDavid's Maturity and Physicality

In 2021, Gretzky praised McDavid's increased maturity and physicality, noting his strong desire to win. However, McDavid has also faced criticism from sports journalists for his defensive play, particularly his high rate of turnovers in the Oilers' defensive zone.

2021: Unanimous Hart Memorial Trophy Win

In 2021, McDavid unanimously won the Hart Memorial Trophy, joining Wayne Gretzky as the only players to achieve this honor.

2021: Architectural Digest Video Tour

In 2021, a video tour of McDavid and Kyle's house was recorded for Architectural Digest, continuing the Internet meme about its design and view.

October 12, 2022: McDavid scores hat-trick, reaches 700 career points

On October 12, 2022, Connor McDavid scored a hat-trick against the Vancouver Canucks and increased his total career points to 700. This made him the sixth-fastest player in NHL history to reach the milestone, and the fastest player since the 1980s.

2022: Cheerios "Be the Cheer" Promotion and BetMGM Brand Ambassador

In 2022, McDavid was featured on Cheerios cereal boxes as part of the "Be the Cheer" promotion. In 2022, McDavid became the first active professional athlete to serve as a brand ambassador for sports betting company BetMGM.

2022: NHL Players Unavailable for 2022 Winter Olympics

In 2022, McDavid was selected for the Canadian roster for the Winter Olympics in Beijing, but NHL players were ultimately not allowed to participate due to COVID-19 concerns. McDavid expressed his disappointment, as playing in the Olympics had been a dream of his since childhood.

2022: Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy

In 2022–23, McDavid won the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy as the league's leading goal-scorer.

June 22, 2023: Engagement to Lauren Kyle

On June 22, 2023, McDavid got engaged to Lauren Kyle.

2023: Preference for Watching Players Over Teams

In 2023, McDavid stated that he "likes watching players more than teams", naming the Maple Leafs and the Pittsburgh Penguins as his preferred teams to watch due to their players.

2023: Captained Oilers to Stanley Cup Finals

In 2023–24, McDavid captained the Oilers to the Stanley Cup Finals, marking their first appearance since 2006.

April 15, 2024: McDavid Records 100th Assist

On April 15, 2024, Connor McDavid recorded his 100th assist of the 2023-24 season, becoming the first NHL player in over three decades and the fourth in NHL history to reach this milestone.

July 27, 2024: Marriage to Lauren Kyle

On July 27, 2024, McDavid married Lauren Kyle in Muskoka, Ontario. The wedding was featured in Vogue, and teammates Leon Draisaitl and Darnell Nurse were groomsmen.

2024: Conn Smythe Trophy

In 2024, McDavid won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player in the Stanley Cup playoffs, despite not winning the Stanley Cup.

January 20, 2025: McDavid Suspended

On January 20, 2025, Connor McDavid was handed a three-game suspension for cross-checking Conor Garland in a game against the Vancouver Canucks on January 18, 2025.

2025: 2025 4 Nations Face-Off Victory

In 2025, McDavid was named alternate captain for Team Canada at the 4 Nations Face-Off, where he recorded three goals, including the game-winning goal against Team USA, leading Canada to victory. He was named Player of the Game and secured his first international gold medal since 2016 in a senior-level "best on best" tournament.