NHL: Edmonton Oilers at Vancouver Canucks – Source: Imagn

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid is currently five points away from hitting the 1,000-point milestone. At his current pace, McDavid will become the fourth-fastest player to achieve the vaunted mark.

The tremendous achievement has drawn plenty of admiration from fans and the media, but in particular, from his long-time teammate and friend, Leon Draisaitl.

Draisaitl recently spoke with the media, making his feelings known about Connor McDavid milestones. Here’s what Draisaitl said, according to Sportsnet:

“I don’t think there’s been a player like him before. I don’t think there’s a player that can create out of nothing like him, ever, in hockey,” Draisaitl said. “Getting to a thousand points at his age and with how few games he’s played, it’s a little mind-blowing at times to see him break all these records.”

Draisaitl’s comments underscore the magnitude of McDavid’s achievement. McDavid has currently scored 339 goals and 656 assists for 995 points in 657 games. Only Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux and Mike Bossy reached the 1,000-point plateau faster than Connor McDavid.

Of course, getting to that milestone hasn’t been easy. Draisaitl expanded on McDavid’s work ethic as the leading factor for McDavid’s singular feat:

“But there’s a lot of work that goes into it for him that a lot of people don’t see.”

Fans, coaches, teammates and opponents are privy to McDavid’s jaw-dropping plays. However, very few know the amount of hard work and dedication it takes to achieve what McDavid has accomplished at age 27.

If anyone knows about McDavid’s dedication to the game, it’s Draisaitl.

Leon Draisaitl fortunate to be around Connor McDavid

Draisaitl continued his glowing comments regarding his friend and teammate, stating the following:

“We’re very fortunate to get to see him and watch him every day and see how much he cares about the game of hockey and how he cares about himself.”

McDavid’s speedy recovery from a lower-body injury earlier this season is a testament of how well he takes care of himself. He is known for maintaining a rigorous physical conditioning routine, often sharing workouts on social media.

Leon Draisaitl concluded his comments by saying:

“Very fortunate to be able to learn from him and just watch him do his thing. It’s just fun to watch, really.”

Draisaitl will get a front-row seat to NHL history. When Connor McDavid reaches the 1,000-point mark, Draisaitl and his teammates will become first-hand witnesses to one of the league’s greatest players demonstrating his quality.

As for Draisaitl, he’ll join McDavid soon enough. Draisaitl has 357 goals and 511 assists for 868 points in 734 games. If everything goes well, he could reach the 1,000-point mark himself at some point next season.