NHL legend Jaromír Jagr makes bold Connor McDavid admission involving Michael Jordan, Gretzky and Lemieux: "I see God in him"

NHL legend Jaromir Jagr made a bold claim regarding Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid.

The former Pittsburgh Penguins captain compared McDavid to some of sports' greatest athletes of all-time in an interview published on MSN dated June 16 by Luke Fox.

Jagr, who currently plays in Europe well into his 50s, stated:

“I respect the game he plays. It’s fun to watch. The way he plays, he sometimes makes very good players look silly. And it’s special. I always admire people who are greater than the rest of ’em.”

Jagr then mentioned the intervention of a higher power in McDavid’s game, declaring:

“I believe in God. [Jagr points to the cross on his T-shirt.] So, I can see the God in him. It’s something that’s great. I always appreciate it. Because it’s got to be something more than the rest of us.”

That divine inspiration, according to Jagr, is what places Connor McDavid into the echelon of some all-time greats.

He added:

“Like, when you look at basketball, you get Jordan. You got to be different. And to be that different, it’s special. That’s the way I see it. I can appreciate the greatness of the people. Gretzky was different. Mario Lemieux was different.”

McDavid is currently tied with teammate Leon Draisaitl for the postseason lead in scoring with 33 points in 21 games. The Oilers captain ended a frustrating drought by notching his first goal of the Stanley Cup Final in Game 5 against the Panthers on Saturday night.

The goal could signal that McDavid is ready to bust loose. His elite playmaking abilities could potentially lead his team to force a Game 7.

Connor McDavid with opportunity to cement legacy

McDavid's skills could be just what the Oilers need to win the 2025 Stanley Cup - Source: Imagn

A piece published on NHL.com from June 3 looked at a crucial point regarding Connor McDavid's legacy.

The article highlights how a Stanley Cup win would cement McDavid’s legacy as one of the NHL’s all-time greats.

While it’s not like McDavid doesn’t have the credentials to make a case for himself among the top NHLers of all time. But the lack of a Stanley Cup championship could hang over his head for the remainder of his career.

If McDavid and the Oilers can come back from a 3-2 deficit to win the Stanley Cup this season, it would not only cement McDavid’s individual legacy but also the Edmonton Oilers as the team that ended Canada’s Stanley Cup drought.

The focused attitude from the Oilers in this Cup Final has allowed the club to find more clarity in what they need to do to win, according to Fox.

McDavid and the Oilers are on a mission to bring the Cup back to Edmonton for the first time since 1990. If they can achieve the feat, the team will go down as one of the NHL's greatest in recent memory.