The Toronto Maple Leafs are heading into Saturday night with another elite test waiting on the other side. After beating the Avalanche 6-3 in Colorado earlier this month, Toronto now gets Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers at 7 p.m. ET.
McDavid has been on a blistering start, with 31 points through 10 games and 13 points in his past three. For a player who already owns six Art Ross trophies, the early-season pace is a reminder that he can still tilt a game quickly, even by his own lofty standards.
Toronto knows what kind of challenge is coming
Auston Matthews said McDavid’s production is not really surprising, noting that he has set the standard since entering the league. Matthews also pointed out that nights like this are part of the job when you face the NHL’s best players: the goal is to limit time and space, but those stars still find ways to create chances.
That message fits the Maple Leafs’ recent schedule. Two weeks ago, they dealt with Nathan MacKinnon in Denver at Ball Arena, and this trip gives them another chance to measure themselves against one of the game’s top attackers. The Oilers matchup is more than a regular-season date on the calendar; it is another high-end challenge for a Toronto team that has already had to deal with elite talent on the road.
McDavid’s impact reaches across the league
Jack Roslovic, who said he saw McDavid every night, described the mix of work ethic and natural skill that makes him so difficult to contain. He also called it an enjoyable challenge to go against the best, which is the same mindset Toronto will need again on Saturday.
Gavin McKenna, the 18-year-old rookie, said getting a first taste of the NHL makes watching McDavid even more impressive. He described McDavid’s speed and his ability to slow the game down, speed it back up, and find open teammates in places few players can see. He also said that facing him would be a chance to try to shut him down.
For the Maple Leafs, that is the assignment in simple terms. McDavid is producing at a level few players can match, and Toronto already knows the margin for error against a talent like that is extremely small.
