McDavid becomes the 4th fastest player to reach 1000 points.

[Fourier]

Gretzky was on his last legs and retired at 38, Lemieux tried to pull it off but couldn't and retired mid-season. Yzerman rested over the lockout to return for one more year, playing 12 minutes a night while taking games off behind a 35-year-old Robert Lang in the depth chart. Sakic didn't recover from early season injuries at 39 etc. Only a small handful of players have mastered playing past 40 and not many current players will join that club.

Athletes today have an immense advantage in maintaining longevity because of the way they train and the way they mange their bodies. Guy Lafleur for example was a chain smoker. Players in the 80's and early 90's did very little out of season training. It is no guarantee that McDavid plays even into his late 30's but I think the odds he will are much greater than for past generations.

 

[ijuka]

A bit surprised McDavid was slower than Bossy. I know Bossy was great and all, but I've never thought of him as a monster point-getter, but more of a goal-scorer.

Then again, I guess he's had a bit of a cold streak to start the season. He's not even in top 10 for points per game this year.

Most skilled player ever IMO. No offense to the 80s guys, but it's much harder to score against today's D and goaltending.

Gretzky was more about being smart, not so much about being skilled.

He was skilled, of course, but when you look at McDavid and him, it's pretty obvious McDavid has more physical skill.

Still, I don't think that McDavid is smart in the same way Gretzky was. I'd say that Kucherov is more of that type.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

I'm starting to feel pretty good about my "controversial" prospects takes on McDavid

This was in 2012:

He still has a long way to go, but he does have the potential to be a better offensive player than Crosby, but he will need to get bigger and stronger....

I'd say a ceiling for his scoring would be around 130 points in today's NHL

FYI, 130 points in 2012 roughly equates to 152 points today.

During his 66 point 15 year old OHL season, I predicted he'd score 110+ as a 16 year old (he had 99 in 56gp = 120 point 68 game pace)

After his 16 year old season, I predicted he could score at a 2.5+ ppg pace (he finished with 2.55 ppg).

And in 2013:

In terms of potential, McDavid could be better than 87 offensively

In terms of puck skills and speed, Mcdavid is superior [to Crosby] at the same age.

These were pretty controversial at the time, as McDavid still hadn't even led his junior team in scoring yet, while Sid was back to back CHL player of the year at the same age. It's not very often you see generational prospects arguably exceed expectations.

Unrelated, but @nbwingsfan has some serious crow to eat for his posts in the last few pages of that thread, especially after telling me that because he had a job in junior hockey he knew better than me. Oof.

 

[TMLeafer]

Great milestone, at this pace. Congrats to McDavid!