Connor McDavid cracked Sports Illustrated’s list of the 50 most influential figures in sports in 2024.

He was the lone representative of hockey, regardless of whether he was an athlete or an executive, and it spoke volumes about the sport’s level of influence in the United States. With the lacklustre growth of the sport south of the border aside, if there was only one person in hockey included, then McDavid was the best option.

After all, he is set to be one of the key characters in the upcoming Amazon Prime documentary “Faceoff: Inside the NHL,” which has a scene where he rips into his teammates after the Oilers lost Game 2 of the Final. He is the undisputed best player in the league right now, as evidenced by his incredible production that has remained consistent every year and his treasure trove of individual recognition, which includes being the Conn Smythe Trophy winner despite being on the losing end of the Stanley Cup.

While his interviews with the media may seem like someone who is far from influential, his dazzling moves and jaw-dropping plays more than makeup for it, as you can count on him hitting the highlight reels multiple times a year. We would be here all week if we were to go over every single moment where McDavid shocked the world, but I will focus on one moment in particular that will immediately stick in the minds of Oilers fans. His performance in Game 6 of the WCF against the Stars will be talked about for decades to come. That night, he took matters into his own hands, which included an incredible goal to help punch Edmonon’s ticket to the Final.

To put into perspective just how much McDavid has meant to the Oilers, Game 6 of the Final was the first time since he joined the NHL that Edmonton won a game where he didn’t record a shot on goal or a point. He has given it his all since the day he was drafted first overall in 2015 and it is not a stretch to say the team would be nowhere without him. Oilers fans don’t need me to convince them of this fact, but it’s stats like that which highlight his importance to the organization.

All of which is to say McDavid is a deserving pick to be hockey’s lone representative on Sports Illustrated’s most influential figures in sports right now.