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Edmonton Oilers' star Connor McDavid and newcomer David Tomasek are surprisingly among the NHL's unluckiest players, according to iXG analytics. Despite generating numerous high-quality scoring chances, neither has scored a goal. This statistical anomaly, especially for McDavid, raises questions about the team's early struggles and coach Kris Knoblauch's decisions, like scratching Tomasek.
The Edmonton Oilers are facing a frustrating start to their season, and two of their players — superstar Connor McDavid and newcomer David Tomasek, have found themselves at the center of a surprising statistical list. According to recent analytics using the Individual Expected Goals (iXG) metric, both players rank among the NHL’s “unluckiest” so far, unable to find the back of the net despite generating plenty of scoring chances.
Connor McDavid tops the list, but luck hasn’t followed effort
McDavid, known for his elite offensive instincts, reportedly sits atop the league’s “unlucky” rankings with an iXG of 2.73, yet he’s scored zero actual goals this season. That figure means he’s producing enough high-quality shots to expect nearly three goals, but the puck simply hasn’t gone in.Tomasek, meanwhile, ranks fourth on the same list with an iXG of 1.96 and the same frustrating result — no goals. For a player trying to prove himself in the Oilers’ bottom six, the lack of scoring luck feels particularly cruel.
His offensive effort hasn’t gone unnoticed, yet he was recently made a healthy scratch against Detroit, a move many fans and analysts questioned.
Scratching David Tomasek raises questions about Kris Knoblauch’s strategy
Head coach Kris Knoblauch’s decision to bench Tomasek has raised eyebrows, especially considering Edmonton’s early scoring struggles. The Oilers have managed only a handful of goals in their first six games, and sitting one of the few players generating consistent chances seems counterproductive.
“Even when a player doesn't score, you can assess the level and quality of his scoring chances,” the analysis notes. “Both McDavid and Draisaitl have been getting chances, which at some point will translate into goals.”For Edmonton, patience might be the missing piece. The metrics show the effort is there now, the team just needs the finishing touch to turn analytics into wins before frustration takes a deeper hold.Also Read: “We didn’t seem to get any better”: Connor McDavid loses patience as Oilers’ sloppy start exposes deeper problems early in the season
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