History of Connor McDavid in Timeline

Connor McDavid is a Canadian professional ice hockey center and captain of the Edmonton Oilers. Drafted first overall in 2015, he is considered one of the best players globally, known for his exceptional offensive skills and drawing comparisons to Wayne Gretzky. He currently plays in the NHL.

Sections (4)

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

1982: Wayne Gretzky Unanimously Won Hart Memorial Trophy

McDavid is one of only two players, after Wayne Gretzky in 1982, to unanimously win the Hart Memorial Trophy.

January 13, 1997: Connor McDavid's Birth

On January 13, 1997, Connor McDavid was born. He is now known as a Canadian professional ice hockey centre and captain of the Edmonton Oilers.

Others born on this day/year

2001: Otters Reached 100 Points

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

2003: Jean-Sébastien Giguère last player to win Conn Smythe Trophy without winning Stanley Cup

In the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs, McDavid won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player, becoming the first player since Jean-Sébastien Giguère in 2003 to win the award despite not winning the Stanley Cup.

2005: John Tavares Granted Exceptional Player Status

John Tavares was granted exceptional player status in 2005.

2005: Sam Gagner Recorded 17 Points in OHL Cup

Sam Gagner recorded 17 points in five games during the 2005 OHL Cup tournament.

2006: Oilers last Stanley Cup Finals appearance

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

2009: Participated in Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament

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

2011: Aaron Ekblad Granted Exceptional Player Status

Aaron Ekblad was granted exceptional player status in 2011.

2011: Joined Toronto Marlboros

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

April 7, 2012: Erie Otters Selected McDavid First Overall

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, allowing him to play junior ice hockey at 15. Also in 2012, the Erie Otters selected him first overall in the OHL draft.

2012: Won GTHL Player of the Year Award

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

2012: Joined the Otters

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

March 10, 2013: Set Franchise Record for Rookie Assists

On March 10, 2013, McDavid set a franchise record for rookie assists with his 37th assist of the season, also tying for the most rookie points in Otters history.

2013: World U-17 Hockey Challenge

In 2013, McDavid participated in the World U-17 Hockey Challenge, where he led Team Ontario with nine points but the team finished in sixth place. Despite the team's performance, McDavid was named to the tournament all-star team.

2013: Won Gold at IIHF World U18 Championships

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

2013: Otters Started the season with 25 points

The Erie Otters started the 2013-14 season with 25 points in their first 15 games.

2014: Recorded 120 Points in OHL

During the 2014-15 OHL season, McDavid recorded 120 points and received multiple awards.

2014: Named Otters Captain

During training camp in 2014, the Otters named McDavid their captain for the 2014-15 season.

2014: World Junior Ice Hockey Championship

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

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

In 2014, McDavid won the Bobby Smith Trophy for the OHL's Scholastic Player of the Year and was named the CHL Scholastic Player of the Year, maintaining a 92 percent average at McDowell High School.

July 3, 2015: McDavid signed with the Edmonton Oilers

On July 3, 2015, Connor McDavid signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Edmonton Oilers worth $11.3 million, including up to $3.775 million annually in 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 both times by Brian Elliott.

2015: Joined the Oilers for the 2015-16 Season

After his junior hockey career, McDavid joined the Oilers for the 2015-16 season.

2015: Drafted First Overall by the Oilers

In 2015, Connor McDavid was selected first overall by the Edmonton Oilers in the NHL entry draft.

2015: Won Gold at World Junior Ice Hockey Championships

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

2015: Broke Hand in Fight

On November 11, 2014, McDavid broke his hand in a fight, causing him to miss several games.

October 5, 2016: McDavid 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 shootout goal against Ben Bishop to secure a 3–2 victory for the Edmonton Oilers against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

2016: ESPN Interview

In 2016, ESPN interviewed several people, including Auston Matthews and Joe Thornton, who praised McDavid's speed on the ice.

2016: IIHF World Championship & World Cup of Hockey

In 2016, McDavid joined the Canadian senior team for the IIHF World Championship, scoring his first goal in the gold-medal match against Finland. He was also named captain of Team North America for the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.

2016: Meeting Lauren Kyle

In 2016, McDavid met his wife, interior designer Lauren Kyle, on a blind date.

2016: Ceremonial First Pitch

In 2016, McDavid threw out the ceremonial first pitch at a Toronto Blue Jays game.

2016: International Gold Medal

In 2016, McDavid won his first international gold medal since 2016 in a senior-level tournament.

2016: Named Youngest Captain in NHL History

In 2016, the Oilers appointed McDavid, at 19 years old, as the youngest captain in NHL history.

March 29, 2017: Oilers Clinch Playoff Berth

On March 29, 2017, the Edmonton Oilers clinched a berth in the 2017 playoffs after defeating the Los Angeles Kings, ending a 10-year playoff drought for the team.

June 21, 2017: Cover Athlete for NHL 18

On June 21, 2017, Electronic Arts revealed that McDavid would be the cover athlete for NHL 18.

July 5, 2017: McDavid Signs 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: Associated Press Survey

In 2017, an Associated Press survey quoted defenceman Seth Jones describing McDavid as "what Crosby was when he was 20".

2018: Scored 41 Goals in Consecutive Years

In 2018, McDavid scored 41 goals for the Oilers.

2018: IIHF World Championship

In 2018, McDavid was named captain of Team Canada at the IIHF World Championship in Denmark, where he scored five goals and 13 points, but Canada finished without a medal for the first time since 2014.

January 2019: Peter Chiarelli Sacked

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

April 6, 2019: McDavid Injured in Final Game of Season

On April 6, 2019, during the final game of the season, Connor McDavid crashed into the Calgary Flames' net, suffering a complete tear of the posterior cruciate ligament and popliteus muscle, tears to both the medial and lateral meniscus, and a tibial plateau fracture.

2019: NHL First Star of the Week

Connor McDavid started the 2019-20 season as the NHL First Star of the Week with 12 points through the first five games of the year.

2019: Leg Injury Prevents Participation

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

2019: NHLPA Voted Best Forward

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

2019: Injured Knee but Rehabilitated

In the final game of the 2018-19 season, McDavid injured his knee but underwent nonsurgical rehabilitation and returned for the 2019-20 season.

2020: Recorded 100 Points in Shortened Season

During the shortened 2020-21 NHL season, McDavid recorded 100 points for the fourth time in his career.

2020: Fourth All-Star Game Appearance

In 2020, Connor McDavid made his fourth All-Star Game appearance as captain of the Pacific Division, but was kept from a fourth consecutive Fastest Skater win by Mathew Barzal.

2020: House Featured in EDify Magazine

In 2020, photos of McDavid's house were featured in EDify magazine, leading to internet memes about its minimalist design.

2020: NHLPA Voted Best Forward

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 his 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 in the season

On May 9, 2021, Connor McDavid reached 100 points in the 2020-21 season in a game against the Vancouver Canucks. He reached this milestone in only 53 games, making him the fastest to reach 100 points since Mario Lemieux in the 1995-96 season.

November 23, 2021: McDavid's 17-game 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. It was the eighth-longest point streak to begin a season in NHL history.

December 2021: NHL Withdraws from Olympics

In December 2021, the NHL declared that no players would participate in the Olympic Games, citing COVID-19 outbreaks, which upset McDavid, who had dreamt of playing in the Olympics since he was a child.

2021: Praise from Gretzky

In 2021, Gretzky praised McDavid's increased maturity and physicality compared to previous seasons.

2021: Hart Memorial Trophy

In 2021, McDavid joined Gretzky as the only players to unanimously win the Hart Memorial Trophy, as voted by the Professional Hockey Writers' Association.

2021: Video Tour for Architectural Digest

In 2021, a video tour of McDavid's house was recorded for Architectural Digest, leading to internet memes about its minimalist design.

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

On October 12, 2022, during the Oilers' season opener against the Vancouver Canucks, Connor McDavid scored a hat-trick 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 & Brand Ambassador for BetMGM

In 2022, McDavid appeared on boxes of Cheerios cereal as part of their "Be the Cheer" promotion and became a brand ambassador for sports betting company BetMGM.

2022: Oilers advance to Western Conference Final

In 2022, McDavid led the Oilers to the Western Conference Final for the first time since 2006. They were eventually defeated by the Colorado Avalanche.

2022: Winter Olympics

In 2022, McDavid was selected to the Canadian roster for the Winter Olympics in Beijing. However, the NHL decided not to participate due to COVID-19 outbreaks, preventing McDavid from playing.

2022: Won 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 became engaged to Lauren Kyle.

2023: Watching Players More Than Teams

In 2023, McDavid stated that he "likes watching players more than teams", and named the Maple Leafs and the Pittsburgh Penguins as the two teams he most enjoys watching.

2023: Captained Oilers to Stanley Cup Finals

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

2023: Oilers hire Jeff Jackson as CEO of hockey operations

In the summer 2023 off-season, the Oilers hired Jeff Jackson, McDavid's longtime agent, to serve as the CEO of hockey operations.

April 15, 2024: McDavid records 100th assist, joins NHL history

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

July 27, 2024: Marriage to Lauren Kyle

On July 27, 2024, McDavid married Lauren Kyle in Muskoka, Ontario. The wedding was featured in Vogue.

2024: Won Conn Smythe Trophy

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

January 20, 2025: McDavid receives three-game suspension

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: 4 Nations Face-Off Victory

In 2025, McDavid was named alternate captain for Team Canada at the 4 Nations Face-Off and led the team to victory against Team USA in the final game, scoring the game- and tournament-winning goal. He was named Player of the Game.