Connor McDavid just gave Mike Babcock another reminder of what Edmonton's new head coach has waiting for him this season.
McDavid has officially become the first player in EA Sports NHL history to receive a 99 overall rating, earning the distinction in NHL 27.
The announcement arrived Monday and puts Edmonton's captain in territory the video-game series had never reached with an NHL player. No. 97 now owns another distinction attached exclusively to his name.
It comes after another massive regular season. McDavid produced 48 goals and 138 points while appearing in all 82 games for the Oilers.
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His production went well beyond even-strength scoring. McDavid recorded 13 power-play goals and 41 power-play assists, keeping Edmonton's top unit heavily tied to his ability to create with the puck.
The individual recognition also arrives at an interesting moment for Edmonton. McDavid is moving into the first season of the two-year contract extension he signed with the Oilers.
McDavid enters another season with pressure rising
That deal carries a $12,500,000 annual value through 2027-28, giving Edmonton another defined window with its captain under contract.
The 99 rating won't change what McDavid or the Oilers are chasing. Individual recognition has followed him for years, while the Stanley Cup remains the prize that can reshape how this Edmonton era is remembered.
His career totals underline just how much production has already piled up. McDavid has reached 1,220 points across 794 regular-season games.
There's also a coaching change waiting for him when the Oilers return to the rink. Mike Babcock was hired as Edmonton's head coach on June 23, putting a new voice behind the bench for McDavid's next push.
Babcock inherits a captain who remains capable of driving games through controlled entries, speed through the neutral zone and relentless puck possession.
For Edmonton, the NHL 27 announcement is another reminder of the standard surrounding McDavid. Being the first 99-rated player is historic, but the bigger storyline starts when the puck drops.
McDavid has the individual distinction. Now the Oilers need that level of dominance to translate into the playoff result they've been chasing.
Will Connor McDavid lead the Oilers to the Stanley Cup this season?
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