Connor McDavid once compared himself to an undrafted Leafs forward
Connor McDavid was always touted to be a generational talent, even from a very young age. Dating back to 2011-12 when he played for the Toronto Marlboros of the GTHL U16AAA, he scored 79 goals and 209 points in just 88 games. The following season he scored 27 goals and 77 points in only 33 games.
In 3 years with the Erie Otters, McDavid went from 66 points in 63 games in 2012-13, to 99 points in 57 games in 2013-14, to 120 points in just 47 games in his draft year. He was by and far the consensus number one pick that year and edged out players like Jack Eichel, Dylan Strome, and Mitch Marner.
Before being drafted im 2015, the top prospects were asked standard questions about their best assets, areas of need, and which player they compared themselves to. McDavid surprisingly compared himself to then-Toronto Maple Leafs center, Tyler Bozak.
Ahead of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, Bozak was a 6-year veteran who had amassed 95 goals and 232 points in 378 games. He registered a career-high 49 points in 58 games in 2013-14 and matched that total the following season, albeit in 82 games.
McDavid explained that he chose Bozak "because he is a good skater and is more of a pass-first type of guy." As the article said, you probably can't blame him for choosing the number one centre on his favourite - and hometown - team.
Jack Eichel compared himself to Jeff Carter, who at the time was a 10-year veteran with 283 goals and 522 points in 718 games, including a career high 46 goals coupled with 7-seasons of 26+ goals. Noah Hanifin compared himself to Drew Doughty, Lawson Crouse compared himself to Milan Lucic, and Dylan Strome compared himself to Joe Thornton. The top European skater in Oliver Kylington compared himself to "no one".
Fast forward 8 years later and McDavid is far and wide the best player in the NHL and has registered 303 goals and 850 points in just 569 games, including 75 points in 49 playoff games. McDavid has six 100-point seasons, should be on his way to winning his 3rd MVP and 4th Ted Lindsay, has 5 Art Ross', and 1 Rocket Richard. Not too shabby for a guy who likened himself to Tyler Bozak.
