The Capitals winger has seven goals and 12 points through 10 games so far.
WASHINGTON — The 2024-25 season has seen a brand-new Connor McMichael take the ice for the Washington Capitals.
The 23-year-old is a new-and-improved player, finally living up to the hype that made him a first-round pick in 2019.
McMichael is producing at over a point-per-game rate with 12 points through 10 games, and his seven goals lead the Capitals.
"It's confidence... it's just confidence for me right now, so I'm trying to ride that," McMichael said.
But what exactly is fueling McMichael's red-hot start and that confidence he's playing with shift after shift?
Quite a bit.
First off, McMichael's overall game has taken a significant step forward. His top speed this season is 22.79 miles per hour, which puts him in the 93rd percentile league-wide, per NHL EDGE.
He's moving his feet and getting to those high-danger areas, and linemates Pierre-Luc Dubois and Tom Wilson are opening up more space for him on the ice.
"I keep saying this, but playing with Dubey and Willy, they make it really easy for me," McMichael said. "Those guys are two of the best players at puck posession and getting the puck back. So when we have the puck, it's not hard to make plays."
McMichael is also shooting the puck more. He has 31 shots on goal this season, putting him in the 84th percentile league-wide, and his shooting percentage of 22.6 is tied for third among skaters with at least 30 shots on goal this year.
"If you did a spot chart on where (he's) scoring from, that's the key for me," head coach Spencer Carbery said regarding McMichael's offensive surge. "(He's) constantly attacking the net and around the net now... getting a lot of high-danger chances.
"There's when you can go from 10 goals to 22, from 20 goals to 31."
For McMichael, his shot and finishing were points of emphasis for him in the offseason, but he's also really taken a step forward thanks to a new approach and mindset on the ice.
"When I'm around the net, I have a lot of confidence trying to beat the goalie, whereas before, I was just trying to get it to the net and maybe not beat the goalie," McMichael pointed out.
Beyond his scoring, McMichael's also just a more versatile player and has really embraced his move to the wing, wile also taking on more responsibiltiy on special teams. He's always in the right position at both ends of the ice, and his hockey IQ is his strongest asset.
"He's finding his way in the right spot... He's not a one-dimensional player — never was a one-dimensional player — but we're in sync a lot more," John Carlson said. "He's making the most of his opportunities."
McMichael's hoping that he can keep this pace and consistency going forward, but right now, he's feeling like a different player, and seeing his ice time and production increase has been huge for his growth, too.
"After you see one drop, your confidence just builds and builds," McMichael said. "Another one goes in, and it just keeps on rolling,"
