"It's not going to get to Toronto" - Leon Draisaitl remains wary of 'jinxing' Connor McDavid clinching 1000-point milestone before clash against Leafs

By Abhilasha Aditi

Modified Nov 13, 2024 07:35 GMT

Leon Draisaitl is being careful about talking too much about Connor McDavid reaching 1,000 career points. As McDavid gets closer to the milestone, Draisaitl hopes it happens at home before the Oilers play the Toronto Maple Leafs.

(2:12) "I hope I'm not going to jinx it," Draisaitl said. "I have a feeling it’s not going to get to Toronto. Knock on wood, hopefully, I'm right."

McDavid is currently at 999 points, with the next game against the New York Islanders. He’s had a good start to the season with 17 points in 13 games.

Although he was looking a little slower than usual, he has picked up pace in last two games. He scored three points (one goal, two assists) in the game against Vancouver and four points (one goal three assists) in the game against the Islanders.

Now he is just one point away from hitting 1,000 points. McDavid will become the fourth-fastest player to reach this milestone.

This achievement is big for Connor McDavid and the Oilers. Since McDavid joined the team in 2015, the Oilers have turned into a playoff contender. Draisaitl further spoke about McDavid’s milestone:

"I'm sure he'd love to do it in front of our fans at home. like i said this morning, we're not talking greatness, we're talking legendary type stuff. it's fun to be a part of," Draisaitl added.

McDavid’s goal remains winning the Stanley Cup, and the 1,000 points are just a step along the way.

---

Connor McDavid focuses on team success as he nears 1,000 career points

Connor McDavid has faced challenges like missing a few games due to an ankle injury, but he’s continued to perform well. Last season, he finished with 132 points.

For Draisaitl, seeing McDavid’s success up close is no surprise. They’ve played together for years, with Draisaitl often setting up McDavid’s goals.

While reaching 1,000 points is an important milestone, McDavid’s focus remains on the team’s success.

“I don’t think you think about how quickly you get there,” Crosby said (via NHL.com). “It’s a nice number and it’s something that you talk about and you join a certain company. That’s just a product of hard work, playing with great players and being part of good teams too.”

Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch also spoke about McDavid’s upcoming achievement, saying:

“It’s a huge milestone and I’m not surprised he doesn’t want to talk about it. But for him to reach that at this point in his career and the way NHL scoring has been since he got into the NHL, it’s absolutely remarkable. I’d be very happy if he got that (Tuesday) night and not strung it along, and we are cheering for him.”

For now, Connor McDavid's focus remains on helping the Oilers win a championship.