Alright, let's break down the magic behind the numbers. When we talk about Connor McDavid piling up assists, not all helpers are created equal. The National Hockey League tracks two main types: primary and secondary assists. Understanding this distinction gives us a much clearer picture of how McDavid truly drives the offense for the Edmonton Oilers. This glossary will define the key terms you need to analyze his incredible playmaking.
Primary Assist
This is awarded to the last teammate to touch the puck directly before the goal scorer. It’s the most direct form of playmaking, often involving the final pass, a rebound creation, or a steal that leads immediately to a goal. For a player like McDavid, a primary assist usually means he has sliced through defenders and made a perfect tape-to-tape pass or forced a turnover that results in a scoring chance.
Secondary Assist
This is credited to the second-to-last teammate to touch the puck before the primary assist on a scoring play, provided there is no turnover by the opposition in between. It recognizes involvement in the offensive sequence leading to the goal. While sometimes called a "hockey assist," it can indicate smart puck movement and sustained offensive zone pressure from the Oilers.
Even-Strength Assist
An assist (primary or secondary) recorded when both teams have five skaters on the ice. This is often considered a "pure" measure of offensive generation, as it occurs without the structured advantage of a power play. McDavid’s ability to produce these at an elite rate is a huge reason he consistently wins the scoring title.
Power Play Assist
An assist tallied while the Oilers are on the man advantage. This highlights a player’s effectiveness in executing set plays and exploiting the extra space. McDavid’s vision and passing are amplified here, often in tandem with Leon Draisaitl, making Edmonton’s power play one of the most feared in the NHL.
Apple
Common hockey slang for an assist. You’ll often hear fans or analysts say, "McDavid picked up two apples last night," referring to his assist total for the game.
Points Leader
The player who finishes the regular season with the highest total of points (goals + assists). Winning this title earns the player the Art Ross Trophy. McDavid has led the league in this category multiple times, fueled by his massive assist totals.
Scoring Title
A synonym for the Art Ross Trophy, awarded to the NHL’s points leader at the end of the regular season. It’s the ultimate benchmark for offensive consistency and production.
Hart Memorial Trophy
Awarded annually to the player judged to be the Most Valuable Player to his team. While goal scorers often get attention, a playmaker like McDavid has won this award by demonstrating how indispensable his assist-creating ability is to the Oilers' success.
Most Valuable Player
The common name for the winner of the Hart Trophy. It signifies that a player’s overall contribution, including their playmaking and leadership, was the most impactful in the league that season.
Playmaker
A player whose greatest strength is setting up teammates for goals through exceptional passing, vision, and hockey IQ. This is the core of McDavid’s identity, as he consistently creates high-danger chances for his linemates.
Man Advantage
Another term for a power play, when one team has more players on the ice due to an opponent’s penalty. This is a prime opportunity for the Oilers to pad their stats, and McDavid is the chief conductor of this offense.
Plus-Minus (+/-)
A statistic that measures a player’s goal differential at even strength. A player receives a +1 if they are on the ice for a goal scored by their team, and a -1 for a goal against. While a simplified metric, a high plus-minus can indicate that a player like McDavid drives positive results during his shifts.
Time on Ice (TOI)
The total amount of time a player spends on the ice during a game. McDavid typically logs among the highest TOI totals for forwards, giving him more opportunities to influence the game and rack up assists.
Points Per Game (PPG)
A rate statistic calculated by dividing a player’s total points by the number of games they’ve played. It’s a great way to measure scoring efficiency. McDavid’s PPG, often well above 1.5, showcases his relentless offensive output.
Assist Percentage
The percentage of a team’s total goals that a player assisted on while they were on the ice. A very high percentage shows just how central a player is to the offense. When McDavid is on the ice, he’s almost always involved in the scoring play.
First Assist
Another term for a primary assist. It emphasizes that this was the direct, immediate pass or play that led to the goal.
Second Assist
Another term for a secondary assist. It acknowledges the player’s contribution to the sequence that led to the goal, even if it wasn’t the final pass.
Offensive Zone Start Percentage (OZS%)
The percentage of a player’s shifts that begin with a faceoff in the offensive zone. A higher percentage can indicate that a coach like Kris Knoblauch is putting his star players in a position to succeed offensively right from the drop of the puck.
High-Danger Assist
An assist that originates from a pass made from a "high-danger" area on the ice, typically the slot or the area immediately in front of the net. These are the assists that most highlight a player’s skill and willingness to attack the most defended areas.
Primary Points
A stat category that combines goals and primary assists. It filters out secondary assists and is used by some analysts to measure a player’s direct contribution to scoring. McDavid’s primary point totals are routinely astronomical.
Scoring Chance
A shot attempt taken from a dangerous area on the ice. An assist is often the result of a player creating a scoring chance for a teammate through a skilled pass or play.
Tape-to-Tape Pass
A pass that lands directly on the blade of a teammate’s stick, requiring no adjustment to receive it. This is a hallmark of McDavid’s elite playmaking, allowing shooters like Draisaitl or Connor Brown to release the puck quickly.
Transition Assist
An assist that results from a player effectively moving the puck from the defensive or neutral zone into an offensive chance. McDavid’s unparalleled speed makes him a master of the transition game, turning defense into offense in seconds.
Home Arena
For the Oilers, this is Rogers Place. A player’s stats, including assists, are often broken down into home and road splits, as some players perform differently with the support of the home crowd.
Postseason
The Stanley Cup Playoffs. Assist production in the playoffs is often scrutinized more heavily, as the game tightens up defensively. McDavid’s ability to generate assists under this pressure is key to any deep Stanley Cup run by the Oilers.
So, the next time you see that McDavid finished a night with three assists, you can dig deeper. Was he the brilliant architect with primary helpers, or was he the engine driving the sequence with secondary ones? This breakdown shows that his value goes far beyond a simple number, illustrating the layers of skill that make him the most dynamic playmaker in the world. Whether it’s on the power play or at even strength, his ability to distribute the puck is the catalyst for everything the Oilers do offensively.
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