Connor McMichael is a new dad, but he was already a new man even before that.
Skating with Pierre-Luc Dubois and Tom Wilson on the Caps’ second line, McMichael is off to the best start of his professional career. The 23-year-old forward has eight points (3g, 5a) in his first six games of the NHL’s 2024-25 season and is one of four different Caps players averaging at least a point per game.
Wednesday, the same night he hurriedly left Capital One Arena to join his beloved girlfriend at the hospital for the eventual birth of his son, McMichael notched his first multi-goal game of the season, scoring twice in the second period to help push the Capitals to a 6-3 win over the Philadelphia Flyers.
Not only is McMichael reaching new heights as a player, but he’s also, arguably, The Best Connor Mc currently in the NHL. What once was a fun, sarcastic show of support to McMichael may — at least for this small segment of time — be reality.
McMichael has the same number of points as three-time Hart Trophy winner Connor McDavid. However, McMichael is averaging more points per game (1.33 vs. 1.00) as he’s played in six games, while McDavid has suited up in eight. McDavid’s average ice time is also much higher than McMichael’s: 22:18 to 16:03.
McMichael is also ahead of McDavid in plus-minus (+7 to +1). They have the same number of game-winning goals (1), though McDavid has been a much more prolific shooter this season (24 shots to 12).
While the Capitals’ early-season success is surprising, so is McMichael’s individually, giving us a different chase to watch this season: Which McJesus will finish with more points?
