The last time somebody started an NHL season as hot as Connor McDavid is right now, Toy Story was No. 1 at the box office, the PlayStation had just hit the market, and Oasis released Wonderwall.
Mario Lemieux opened the 1995-96 NHL season with 32 points in his first 10 games and finished with 161 in 70.
Three decades later, McDavid hit 31 points in 10 games.
He added two assists in a loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday night to push his point total to 33 in 11.
McDavid is playing at an elite level that only Lemieux, Wayne Gretzky, and Mike Bossy were able to reach.
He’s operating in a category of his own for the era.
McDavid is on pace for 250 points in an 84-game season.
Gretzky’s single-season record is 215 points in 80 games.
Few would bet on McDavid to break the record at even money, and regression seems inevitable, but that doesn’t take anything away from what 97 has accomplished.
The point is that, at least for the moment, the math is not theoretical.
Unlike in the 1980’s and 1990’s, we have the analytics to appreciate McDavid’s sensational start that much more.
The eye test tells us that McDavid’s speed, quickness, and creativity are special, and the numbers back it up with seven of his goals coming off the rush within five seconds of crossing the blue line.
McDavid’s 18 primary assists are more than double the next player on the list, and he’s registered a point on roughly 69 per cent of Edmonton’s 48 goals.
The Oilers have a 59.1 per cent edge in expected goals with their captain on the ice, and a 62.1 per cent share of the scoring chances.
The fastest player on the ice is turning his speed into offence at a rate the NHL hasn’t seen in a generation.
He’s rendered any conversation about potential sleeper picks to win the Hart Trophy or Art Ross Trophy pointless.
What are the odds McDavid’s hot streak continues when the Oilers host the Detroit Red Wings tonight?
McDavid to register one or more point is -800 at FanDuel – an 88.9 per cent implied chance.
McDavid to record two or more points is -148 – shorter odds than Zach Hyman or Vasily Podkolzin to get on the scoresheet in the same game.
McDavid to score a goal is +100, to score the first goal is +800, and to score two or more goals is +600.
While the rest of the league is playing October hockey, McDavid is playing like he’s in a different decade.
Edmonton hasn’t lost back-to-back games this season.
I’ll bet on that streak to continue tonight and lock in the Oilers to win in regulation at -125 as a FanDuel Best Bet.
Let’s dive into five more numbers I have circled in this Morning Coffee for Monday October 26th, 2026.
Maple Leafs Catch Fire, Plus A FanDuel Best Bet For Monday Night Football
The Toronto Maple Leafs caught fire last week.
Tonight, the Maple Leafs have a golden opportunity to stay red-hot with another win over the Calgary Flames.
Auston Matthews, William Nylander, and Jack Roslovic have each registered six points over four straight wins.
Kirill Marchenko, Easton Cowan and Morgan Rielly chipped in five points each.
With the stars leading the way and the depth players stepping up, Toronto has cleared five or more goals in each of its last three wins and has averaged 3.85 per game this season.
Next up, a Flames side that was brutal out of the gates but has played better of late with three straight wins, giving up a combined four goals over that span.
Calgary still ranks near the bottom of the NHL in with 3.90 goals allowed per game, but the Maple Leafs can’t afford to get caught expecting the compete level the Flames exhibited in five straight losses to begin the year.
Nylander has made the most out of his opportunities in this matchup over the years with 28 points in his last 12 head-to-head meetings, registering at least a point in all 12 games over that span.
His father Michael Nylander played in Calgary for most of his early NHL years from 1993 through 1999, so perhaps that’s a little added motivation against an opponent that has struggled to keep pucks out of its net.
Nylander to score a goal tonight is +160 at FanDuel.
Nylander to record two or more points is +176.
A Same Game Parlay with Nylander to register one or more points and the Maple Leafs to extend their win streak to five in a row is -112.
Let’s see if Toronto can stay hot tonight in Calgary.
Meanwhile, the NFL spotlight will shift back to the NFC East as the Philadelphia Eagles host the Dallas Cowboys on Monday Night Football.
Philadelphia entered the season as the favourite to win the NFC East at FanDuel.
After their roster was ravaged by injuries, the Eagles to make the playoffs is +560 at FanDuel this morning.
Meanwhile, the New York Giants have the best record in the NFC East at 4-2, but they’re the second choice to win the division at +160 at FanDuel.
The Cowboys are a +150 favourite despite a 2-4 record.
Despite double-digit losses to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Green Bay Packers, Dallas is still healthy and has four division games remaining on its schedule.
The Cowboys will be the favourite in each of their next three games beginning tonight in Philadelphia.
The obvious question now is whether Dallas will play to its potential or blow the opportunity in front of them.
For my FanDuel Best Bet, I’ll lock in Dameon Pierce over 1.5 receptions.
In Tanner McKee’s first start in place of Jalen Hurts in Week 6, Pierce was targeted five times and registered four catches for 15 yards.
Saquon Barkley is trending towards playing after missing that game, but he’s listed as questionable with a hamstring injury, and even when he was healthy, he didn’t get much work in the passing game.
Pierce ranked third on Philadelphia in targets last week behind only DeVonta Smith and Dallas Goedert, and Smith will miss tonight’s game.
With the offensive line banged up, Barkley questionable, and the Eagles expected to be playing from behind in the second half, I’ll take Pierce over 1.5 receptions as my FanDuel Best Bet for Monday Night Football.
Hopefully, we can end the week on a winning note.
Have a great day, everyone!