Connor McDavid just etched his name deeper into Edmonton Oilers lore. It was just another day at the office that saw McDavid reach his 1,044th career point with a three-point performance against the Minnesota Wild. In one game, he managed to tie then surpass Jari Kurri to claim sole possession of second place on the Oilers’ all-time points list.
Connor McDavid collects his 1,044th career point, moving past Jari Kurri for sole possession of 2nd on the Oilers all-time list pic.twitter.com/9IHZoPu3DE
— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) January 16, 2025
Say what you will about McDavid’s collaboration with McDonald’s, I don’t think there’s any Kurri sauce on the Big Mac-David.
Contextualising Jari Kurri’s point total
To appreciate McDavid’s ascent, we must first reflect on the towering legacy of Jari Kurri, a player who epitomised excellence during the Oilers’ golden age. A five-time Stanley Cup champion and one of the most gifted wingers in NHL history, Kurri was a critical component of Edmonton’s offensive juggernaut throughout the 1980s. Kurri would have easily held onto second all-time for the Oilers scoring for longer if Connor McDavid wasn’t, well you know, Connor McDavid.
Kurri’s 1,043 points with the Oilers—achieved over 754 games—was a hallmark of his consistency and clutch performance. Kurri’s achievements represent an era of dominance few teams and few players in sports history have replicated, and it’s no wonder his point total stood as long as second all-time for over three decades.
Even after Kurri’s time as an Oiler came to an end, he put up over 300 more points playing for four more teams, but his name remains synonymous with Edmonton’s dynasty just as much as any other Oiler of that era.
What this milestone means for McDavid’s legacy
Connor McDavid’s journey to this milestone has been nothing short of remarkable. Drafted first overall in 2015, McDavid quickly made it clear he was a generational talent. In his tenth season, he’s at 1,044 points in just 686 games. This puts McDavid’s scoring pace in its own singular tier in the modern NHL.
Surpassing Kurri is not just a reflection of McDavid’s individual brilliance—it’s a sign of his legacy with the Oilers and the NHL as a whole. With 1,669 points set by Wayne Gretzky as the franchise’s gold standard, McDavid now has his sights on a mark once thought of as untouchable.
McDavid reaching Gretzky’s franchise milestone now feels inevitable.
Greatness from McDavid
Connor McDavid’s milestone of passing Kurri is a significant one. For those looking to the future, just as the NHL has been invigorated watching Alex Ovechkin—the Great Eight—chasing the Great One’s goal record this season, the fanfare and excitement will come for Edmonton once McDavid chase for Gretzky’s franchise record becomes within reach. So quite literally, give it a few years, and you can start turning your attention to McDavid’s chase for greatness.
Photo by Curtis Comeau/Icon Sportswire
