EDMONTON — Is Connor McDavid the Second Coming of Wayne Gretzky?
Edmonton Oilers fans are wondering that after the National Hockey League club won the draft lottery on Saturday, which gives them the right to select McDavid — the wondrous 18-year-old centre who racked up 44 goals and 120 points in a mere 47 games for his junior Erie Otters team — in June’s entry draft.
The comparison to No. 99 brought a laugh from Gretzky, who’s pulling for the kid.
“Good for him. When I was going down that path as a young player, Gordie Howe was always pulling for me, and I look at Connor the same way,” said The Great One, who stands as the NHL’s all-time leading scorer with 2,857 points and holds or shares 61 NHL records.