Gretzky: 'Wouldn't surprise me' if McDavid eclipses 100 points in 2020-21

Connor McDavid's pursuit of 100 points during a 56-game season could become one of the most prominent subplots of the NHL's stretch run, and Wayne Gretzky believes the Edmonton Oilers star is capable of reaching and possibly exceeding that mark.

"It wouldn't surprise me if he gets more than 100 points," The Great One told Sportsnet's Mark Spector. "Just to show people he's capable of doing it."

McDavid is a virtual lock for the Art Ross Trophy while leading the NHL in scoring by 12, and he needs 23 points over his final 11 contests to hit the century mark. That would give him a 1.79 points-per-game average, a pace only nine other players have matched over a 56-game span, according to Spector.

Gretzky, of course, is on the list after finishing with that average 11 times. However, he believes McDavid's efforts are more impressive given the difference in eras.

"What he's doing is once in a generation, and what he's doing today is a lot tougher than I did," Gretzky said. "Although I'm proud of what I accomplished, all the things we did, these players today are coached differently, the equipment is better, they're coached different.

"It's tougher to play. I'm the first guy to tell you that."

McDavid continues his pursuit Monday versus the Winnipeg Jets.