London Knights star Connor McMichael is set to be the next offensive jewel to shine with the red machine in DC.
After being selected 25th overall in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, the Canadian center had an offensive explosion in 2019-2020. He averaged just shy of two points per game scoring 30 more points in 15 fewer games than he’d managed in his draft season.
He was also a part of Canada’s World Juniors roster, serving as alternate captain and scoring 8 points in 7 games as the team lost to the United States in the gold medal game.
It seems that his career could begin in Washington sooner rather than later. Maybe even in the coming days due to COVID quarantine issues decimating the Capitals roster.
Connor McMichael shown in a photomatch wearing a sombrero after being named first star in a 6-2 win over the Erie Otters on January 19th, 2020. McMichael scored a hat trick and tallied an assist in the game.
McMichael wore this green set game worn jersey from January to the end of the 2019-2020 season for the London Knights. It’s possible it was worn prior to January, but I’ve been unable to dig up photos from before then.
The Caps prospect’s jersey has pretty mild to moderate wear, consisting primarily of stick and puck marks, as well as a few board burns and loose threads.
The front of the jersey has several stick and puck marks throughout the crest. The mark on the crest beneath the eye-slit of the knight’s helmet has led to several photomatches, and the marks near the bottom of the crest begin to show up as the season reaches it’s conclusion.
The right sleeve has a few board burns in the elbow area, and the right shoulder yoke shows a stick mark near the collarbone. That mark has led to the majority of the photomatches as it is present from early January onwards.
The left sleeve has a few more burns and a tiny unrepaired hole. The left shoulder yoke also has a few faint stick marks.
The hem of the front of the sweater has pilling and picks in the yellow/black/white band around the waist.
Connor McMichael preparing to take a faceoff against the Sarnia Sting on March 6th, 2020. The Knights won 4-1 and McMichael had 2 goals and 1 assist en route to being named first star.
The back of the jersey has a few large marks on the left shoulder yoke and a pick or two near the hem.
The nameplate has a good amount of loose threading, and the #11 has light marking near the top of the first #1. The white band of the yellow/black/white bands that circle the waist has a fairly thick repair on right hand side. It is the only repair on the sweater.
I was able to match McMichael’s jersey to seven games from January 10th, 2020 to the final home game on March 8th, 2020 before the OHL shut down due to COVID-19. The youngster scored two hat tricks in those seven games, and tallied 10 goals and 7 assists for 17 total points in those contests.
It is likely the jersey was worn in more contests, but I was unable to find clear photos of McMichael from other games and I did not bother to do any video matching.
Connor McMichael finished the abbreviated 2019-2020 season with 47 goals and 55 assists for 102 points in 52 games. He became a scoring menace, taking another step forward after initial questions about his draft slot.
It remains to be seen whether he’ll settle in as a solid NHLer or become a star, but the future looks bright.