Connor McDavid has scored just once since the All-Star break and on Monday he joked that he would never score again.
For the captain of the Edmonton Oilers, a nine-game streak without a goal is long and unusual. After scoring 64 goals last season, he's down to 21 ahead of the evening games.
• Also read: NHL: Here are the players who skated the most in 2023-2024
• Also read: The Senators in top form
• Also read: Jake Guentzel is pushing at the goal
However, that didn't stop him from racking up 21 assists during that scoreless stretch, including six against the Detroit Red Wings on February 13th.
“I decided to see how much help I could get. It is my goal. I will never throw the puck again. “I won’t score any more goals,” he said in an expressionless voice in the press crowd.
“Of course I want to score, make a difference,” McDavid added more seriously. I want to help the team as much as I can. This also includes scoring goals.”
“I think I have to pass on good chances more often. I have to pass two against one or when my teammate is well positioned in the slot. There's a bit of that. To score goals you need a bit of luck. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.”
It's not McDavid's teammates who will complain about his outpouring of generosity. Zach Hyman has already set a career high with 37 goals and five other players have scored at least 13 goals.
McDavid leads the National League with 68 assists. With 89 points he is in third place on the points list.