Edmonton Oilers: 5 Ways to compare Connor McDavid to Wayne Gretzky

EDMONTON, AB - JANUARY 14: Hayley Wickenheiser, Wayne Gretzky, Connor McDavid, and Mark Giordano pose for a photo prior to the game between the Edmonton Oilers and the Calgary Flames on January 14, 2017 at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Andy Devlin/NHLI via Getty Images)
EDMONTON, AB - JANUARY 14: Hayley Wickenheiser, Wayne Gretzky, Connor McDavid, and Mark Giordano pose for a photo prior to the game between the Edmonton Oilers and the Calgary Flames on January 14, 2017 at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Andy Devlin/NHLI via Getty Images)
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Photo by Andy Devlin/NHLI via Getty Images
Photo by Andy Devlin/NHLI via Getty Images

2. Fast Skaters

It is not uncommon to find that the best hockey players tend to be either the fastest or the best skaters. Both Wayne Gretzky and Connor McDavid possess some of the fastest skating the NHL has ever seen. One can conclude that this velocity in skating has certainly contributed to their ability to acquire a lot of points.

In recent times, Connor McDavid has achieved the fastest skater for the second time in a row during the all-star competition. This is quite an achievement for the 22-year-old center. Gretzky was also known for being a very balanced and speedy skater. These two share a lot in common and having incredible speed is not only one of them but it is very important to be successful in the NHL. Players today have become a lot faster due to better equipment and competitive play.

Having incredible speed has allowed both Gretzky and McDavid to put up incredible stats such as goals, assists, and points. There is no doubt that having such great speed has contributed to their success as players. In assessing players in the NHL, speed is definitely a vital component of determining good playing ability.