Connor McDavid’s top 5 goals from the 2022-23 NHL seasons
Connor McDavid’s evolution into a premier sniper this season has been remarkable to watch. McDavid, like many other NHL greats, decided in the summer to become a goal-scoring machine and has spent the first half the season doing just that.
The Edmonton Oilers star is pacing the league with 35 goals through Wednesday night’s games, and almost all of them would be career highlights for just about every other player. His lightning-quick hands and speed can make even the most difficult moves seem easy.
Here’s a look back at the absolute best goals (for now) McDavid has scored throughout what has been a phenomenal campaign.
5. McDavid makes it in Music City (Dec. 13, @ NSH).
The biggest part of McDavid’s game that makes him better than everybody else from a raw skill perspective has to be his legs. McDavid’s skating style is that of a genetically engineered hockey player. He skates with efficiency and speed to beat defenders, leaving goalies in fear.
This goal against the Nashville Predators is a combination of a shot that has been elevated to great to elite. McDavid takes the puck from the centre ice, speeds up to breakneck speed, and then gets to work.
McDavid is seen causing embarrassment to all four Predators penalty killers, with Dante Fabro, his primary victim, haplessly swinging at the charging pivot, before he wrists a laser beam past Kevin Lankinen.
4. Connor moves Category 5 (Nov. 10, @ CAR).
McDavid starts this play on the perimeter in a seemingly not-so-dangerous position, but there’s no such thing as a bad spot for the league’s preeminent superstar.
The Oilers captain makes a quick cut to the inside on his world-class edges, then uses his unbelievable mitts to go to work on a Carolina team that can only pray it won’t end up on a list like this one.
McDavid unfortunately ended in defeat for Calvin De Haan (defenseman), Pyotr Kochetkov (goalie), and the four Hurricanes on the ice. goes Super SaiyanAfter slicing through defenders to get to the slot, the rookie goalie raked a delicious backhander.
Fun fact: that was Kochetkov’s first game of the season and just the fourth game of his career. While the Russian netminder now finds himself squarely in the race for the Calder Memorial Trophy, it’s hard to diagnose that beauty as anything but a “Welcome to the NHL” moment for the youngster.
3. McMagic at Mad House, Oct. 27 @ CHI
It’s hard to believe given his prolific scoring rate, but McDavid somehow only has two hat tricks so far this season. McDavid’s first goal of the season came against the Vancouver Canucks on opening night. The Oilers gave their Pacific rivals a good preview of what was to come.
McDavid’s only other hat trick this year came against the Chicago Blackhawks, themselves looking for their own franchise-level Connor To steer the ship on its right course. Chicago’s futility shouldn’t take anything away from McDavid, who puts on his Superman cape and does it all himself on a gorgeous go-ahead goal for the Oilers.
The 25-year-old takes the puck off of a pass at the top-of-the near-side circle. Jake McCabe is sent to the phantom area with a disrespectful one on-one move. McCabe then scores a stunning five-hole shot past Alex Stalock to propel Edmonton to the front.
This wouldn’t be the only time McDavid would torch the Blackhawks on the road, as just over a month later, he went up against tank commander Jack Johnson with a head full of steamIt was exactly as you would expect.
2. Goodnight, Golden Knights (Nov. 20, vs. VGK).
You can’t put together a McDavid best-of list without showing off some overtime heroics. With all the extra space during 3-on-3 OT, McDavid goes from cheat code to downright unstoppable, and that’s no better exemplified than on this doozy against the Vegas Golden Knights.
McDavid uses time and space to get the puck in the neutral zone and takes on the Golden Knights trio.
McDavid first crushes Alex Pietrangelo from the outside. After that, Chandler Stephenson shrugs off McDavid before he flips a quick photo roof-down past Adin hill for the OT win.
The slick “I can’t hear you” celebration makes this one all the sweeter, with the hometown Oilers crowd going nuts for their captain’s dramatic goal.
1. McDavid puts Zegras into the spin cycle (Jan. 11, @ ANA).
It’s not often Trevor Zegras is on the wrong side of a highlight-reel goal, but when you’re going head-to-head with McDavid, you might just get torched.
McDavid hits Zegras like the great Danny Gallivan would have said. Savard-ian Spin-o-rama Serge Savard would be proud of Serge Savard’s cheeky moves, twisting the NHL 23 cover boy in knots.
After shaking the dodgeball starMcDavid then goes for his ever-lethal backhand to take out John Gibson. We can only guess that John Gibson is still enjoying McDavid’s absolute dandy move, which earns the Oilers star the “McJesus.” moniker.
This goal wasn’t just the nicest of McDavid’s season so far, it might just be one of the best he’s ever scored in his career. But then again, there have been others. been a lot of insane goals scored by No. 97.
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