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PHT Morning Skate: Comparing McDavid’s first 80 games to other NHL greats

Edmonton Oilers v Arizona Coyotes

GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 21: Connor McDavid #97 of the Edmonton Oilers during the NHL game against the Arizona Coyotes at Gila River Arena on December 21, 2016 in Glendale, Arizona. The Oilers defeated the Coyotes 3-2. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

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--Auston Matthews is all set to play his first NHL game in his hometown of Arizona, and his childhood rink is ready for his return. If ever you visit Arcadia Ice Arena, you’ll quickly realize that Matthews once played there. During a trip to the rink last summer, an arena worker made him sign the Zamboni. (Sportsnet)

--Union College senior Mike Vecchione is having at terrific season. He’s the leader in most offensive categories in NCAA Division I hockey this season and he’s hoping that his success will lead to him having a solid NHL career one day. “I’ve grown up playing hockey every single day of my life, and it’s the one thing that i truly love. I hope it’s going to take me a long way in life, but at the end of the day it’s gonna be that degree I’m going to have to fall back on. If I’m lucky I can play so many years in professional hockey, but one day it’s gonna come to an end.” (Sports Illustrated)

--Calgary Flames coaches recount some of their Christmas memories from when they were kids. Each one of them remembered asking for some kind of hockey-related gift instead of regular toys. Martin Gelinas remembers getting a table hockey game, Jordan Sigalet got his first painted mask and Glen Gulutzan recalls getting his first hockey net. (CalgaryFlames.com)

--Caps forward Alex Ovechkin skated with 50 youth hockey players from the Fort Dupont Cannons Ice Hockey Club, which is the oldest youth minority hockey program in North America. Founder and coach Neal Henderson had this to say about the experience: “Kids get a great kick out of working with him. They get on a friendly basis with him. I tell them all, ‘This is how the pros get started.’ Hockey players are different from a lot of other sports. They’ll put their skates on and come over to the rink and skate with the guys. Very seldom do you see a basketball player go to a park and start working with kids.” (NHL)

--Lightning forward J.T. Brown and his wife are helping with the “Guide the Thunder” hockey program, which gives kids who wouldn’t normally be able to play hockey a chance to skate every Monday night. Ice time for the kids is dependent on their grades and behavior. If they aren’t pulling their weight, they won’t skate. “We want to use hockey as a means to teach life lessons to kids who otherwise wouldn’t have those kinds of opportunities,” said Jay Feaster, who’s now in charge of the Lightning’s community outreach programs. (ESPN)

--Because of the broken collarbone he suffered last season, Connor McDavid only hit the 80-game mark of his career this season. How do his numbers stack up against some other NHL superstars over the last 20 years? Take a look: