Oilers’ McDavid joins illustrious company in 100-assist club

Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Bobby Orr and Connor McDavid.

What do these names all have in common? They are the only NHL players to have ever recorded 100 assists in a single season.

By earning his 100th assist on Monday against the San Jose Sharks, McDavid added his name to yet another part of the NHL record books, joining three of the game’s greatest.

Gretzky earned over 100 assists in 11 different seasons, eight with the Oilers — his most being 163 during the 1985-86 season — while Orr and Lemieux each hit the mark just once in their careers. Orr was the first player in the 100-assist club, notching 102 over the 1970-71 season.

McDavid’s previous high was 87, which he reached in the 2022-23 season.

The Edmonton Oilers star is the first player to earn 100 assists in 33 years, with Gretzky last reaching the mark in the 1990-91 season while playing with the Los Angeles Kings.

There was some concern that McDavid may not reach the coveted milestone, with the superstar sidelined for three games last week with a lower-body injury.

However, he was activated ahead of Monday’s outing against the Sharks, securing his 100th assist on Zach Hyman’s second-period goal, forever etching his name in the annals of hockey history.