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.

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The Chicago Blackhawks have signed defenseman Riley Stillman to a three-year deal with an average annual value of $1.35 million, the team announced Sunday.

Stillman, 23, was set to become a restricted free agent this offseason.

The Blackhawks acquired the 6-foot-1 blue-liner from the Florida Panthers in April. He's appeared in six games for Chicago, registering 16 hits while averaging 16:43 of ice time.

Originally selected by Florida in the fourth round of the 2016 draft, Stillman has notched five assists over 49 NHL contests.

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Jason Spezza is helping to ensure Toronto Marlies players get paid.

Spezza led an initiative in which a group of Toronto Maple Leafs players pooled together money to make a contribution to their AHL counterparts.

"I have to give Spezz a lot of credit on this one," captain John Tavares said when asked about the contribution, according to Sportsnet's Luke Fox. "He kind of brought it to the forefront from the leadership standpoint, and the leadership group thought it was really important.

"I think we know - society as a whole, but certainly in our game - how tough a year it is for so many. So, within the organization, we wanted to make sure we try to take care of our own."

The 37-year-old Spezza is on a league-minimum contract this season but has totaled nearly $89 million in career earnings, according to CapFriendly.

An AHL player's minimum salary for the 2020-21 campaign is $51,000, per the league's CBA. However, due to a shortened season and minimal gate revenue, players' salaries have been reduced by 52%.

Head coach Sheldon Keefe had high praise for his club's actions.

"It just, first of all, speaks to the character of our group, but I think it also just speaks to the recognition of the fact, through this pandemic, people in all walks of life are going through some tough times, and the hockey business as well at different levels," Keefe said.

"If you're a guy playing on an AHL contract, it's a challenge to get through this period," Keefe continued. "I don't know a whole lot about it, but not surprised that our players have the character that they do and step up."

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Winnipeg Jets forward Mark Scheifele rode pine for a significant portion of Saturday's game against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Scheifele went straight off the ice after a Kyle Connor turnover instead of backchecking on Toronto's third goal. He didn't see the ice for 17 straight minutes after that shift, per ShiftChart.com.

Head coach Paul Maurice didn't divulge the specifics behind Scheifele's benching.

"We have some things that we value as a group," Maurice said postgame, according to The Athletic's Murat Ates. "Mark's a real competitive guy, and that gets the best of him sometimes, I think. We just need to adhere to our core values."

Scheifele ended up logging 17:11 of ice time in the game - his second-lowest total of the season. He was minus-2 with no points in the contest.

Jets captain Blake Wheeler said Scheifele responded well to the benching.

"We need him out there to have success," Wheeler said. "I thought he did a good job with it."

Scheifele leads the Jets with 54 points in 47 games.

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Zdeno Chara joined some elite company on Saturday.

The Washington Capitals blue-liner became the fifth defenseman in NHL history to reach the 1,600-game mark.

Chelios, Stevens, Murphy, and Bourque are all enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame.

The veteran signed a one-year deal with the Capitals in the offseason after spending 14 campaigns with the Boston Bruins, with whom he won a Stanley Cup, Norris Trophy, and Mark Messier Leadership Award. Before his run with the Bruins, he spent four years apiece with the Ottawa Senators and New York Islanders.

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Florida Panthers defenseman Keith Yandle played his 915th consecutive game Saturday night when he suited up against the Carolina Hurricanes. In doing so, he now stands alone with the second-longest ironman streak in NHL history.

Yandle eclipsed Garry Unger's mark of 914, which the Panthers blueliner tied Thursday. Doug Jarvis holds the record at 964.

More to come.

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Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby joined some historic company in the NHL record books during Saturday's 4-2 win over the New Jersey Devils.

Crosby notched his 55th point of the 2020-21 campaign with an empty net goal, officially clinching his 16th straight point per game season. Only Gordie Howe and Wayne Gretzky have managed more seasons with a point per game pace, with 17 and 19, respectively, the team announced.

Crosby also joins Gretzky as the only players in NHL history to start their careers with 16-plus consecutive point per game campaigns.

Crosby currently ranks fifth in points per game among players who have played at least 700 contests.

With the goal during Saturday's contest, Crosby also broke a tie with Lemieux and teammate Evgeni Malkin to become the first player in Penguins history to record 20-plus goals in 13 different seasons, according to NHL PR.

"He's a generational talent ... he’s in such elite company," head coach Mike Sullivan said. "He’s building a real compelling argument for being one of the greatest players of all time. We believe he is, but with each milestone he reaches it just provides hard evidence."

The 33-year-old has recorded 20 goals and 35 assists in 47 games this season. In 1,031 career games, he's amassed 482 goals and 836 assists while capturing three Stanley Cup victories, two Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophies, and two Hart Trophies.

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