In the history of the NHL, only three players have received the Hart Trophy (regular season MVP) and Conn Smythe Trophy (playoff MVP) in the same campaign. But, with at least four more victories this June, Edmonton Oilers superstar center Connor McDavid could soon become the fourth player to join one of the league's most exclusive clubs.
McDavid, the reigning Hart Trophy winner, has been a force to be reckoned with during the Western Conference playoffs. Through 13 games this spring, the transcendent 25-year-old leads the league in total points, with 29, and if he keeps his average multi-point pace for Edmonton, he'll be within reach of Wayne Gretzky's record of 47 points in one postseason, set back in 1985.
"He's a rare hockey player where, let's be honest, you play just over one-third of the game. That's the difference in hockey," NHL on TNT host Liam McHugh told The DA Show on Thursday. "He's a rare hockey player who, in that limited amount of time, can completely alter the course of a game and series. And he had moments -- in that first round in L.A. and all through the Calgary series -- where he said, 'I'm going to make something magical occur.'
"And then he just went out and did. Right now, in terms of pure talent, I think he's as talented at his sport, or more talented, than any athlete in the world is at their particular chosen sport. He's that good. This is Messi. This is LeBron. He's that talented. And, the cool thing is, you don't have to know a lot about hockey to watch the puck drop, see a bunch of pros out there, and then say, 'Woah, who's that guy, playing faster than everyone and with more skill?'"
Edmonton -- which finished second in the Pacific Division with 104 points -- lost a high-scoring thriller to the Colorado Avalanche, 8-6, in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals on Tuesday. Game 2 is scheduled for Thursday night inside Ball Arena (8 ET), and according to FiveThirtyEight projections, the Oilers have only a 20-percent chance to reach their first Cup Final since 2006. The team hasn't hoisted the Stanley Cup since the 1989-90 season.
The entire NHL conversation between McHugh and DA can be accessed in the audio player above.
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