Oilers HC recalls Connor McDavid's brilliance brewing since 'phenomenal' OHL series against Sault St. Marie

Edmonton Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch reflected on captain Connor McDavid's impressive performance, which was evident during their time together with the Erie Otters in the 2015 OHL Western Conference Final against the Sault St. Marie Greyhounds.

McDavid's Otters won the series 4-3, with the Oilers captain amassing 49 points through 21 goals and 28 assists in the playoffs that year. Knoblauch, who coached the Otters from 2013 to 2017, witnessed McDavid's growth as a key player.

A decade later, both are heading to consecutive Stanley Cup Finals appearances in 2025. Knoblauch recalled that McDavid set a record in the series against the formidable Greyhounds team, carrying his team to the final.

"We only won about 18 or 19 games that year, so there weren’t many big moments. But I do remember when he was 17, his last year, we had a series against Sault St. Marie. We were hearing Sault St. Marie was the best team in the last 10 or 15 years, and Connor set a record for most points in a series."

He added:

"I think he had about 23 points in a six-game series, and he was phenomenal. Sault St. Marie had a really good team, and he definitely helped carry our team into that final. I got a little taste of it, I saw it when he was young, but obviously that’s junior hockey, that’s not the NHL. I’ve been able to see him do that here in the NHL."

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Connor McDavid leads the playoffs with 26 points through six goals and 20 assists in 16 games. He racked up two points for the Oilers in the series-clinching Game 5 against the Dallas Stars in the Western Conference final.

Connor McDavid becomes the second-fastest player in NHL history to accumulate 100 assists

Connor McDavid's assist on Corey Perry's power-play goal in the first period of Game 5 of the Western Conference final against the Dallas Stars marked his 100th career playoff assist, making him the second-fastest player in NHL history to reach this milestone.

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McDavid achieved this feat in his 90th playoff game, trailing only Wayne Gretzky, who reached 100 playoff assists in just 70 games.

The Stanley Cup Finals series between the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers starts on Wednesday, June 4, at Rogers Place. The puck drops at 8 p.m. ET.

Also Read: Oilers vs Panthers 2025 Stanley Cup Final schedule: Dates, start times, and viewing details

About the author

Abhishek is an NHL writer at Sportskeeda with over 2 years of sports reporting experience and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Delhi. He became a fan of ice hockey after watching NHL fight videos on YouTube, which led to him professionally writing about the sport and his continued interest in all things hockey.

A fan of the Boston Bruins, Abhishek considers their incredible comeback win against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2013 playoffs as the most iconic moment in the NHL. His admiration for the six-time Stanley Cup winners also comes from the team’s storied history, distinctive black and gold uniform and their success in the sport. His all-time favorite NHL players are Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid, for their ability to perform at the highest level consistently.

Abhishek ensures his reporting is fair and balanced by being well-researched in his details, which he expects to be relevant, up-to-date and in line with ethical standards. His specialties are doing detailed match analysis and covering fan reactions.

Abhishek enjoys music, traveling and going on walks with his three German Shepherds in his free time, along with learning about horticulture.

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Edited by Abhishek Dilta