And that might be the biggest reason why McDavid is a quarter of the way into what could be another MVP season, which would be his second in a row and third in the NHL.
The speed, the acceleration, the goals and the production -- 14 goals, 22 assists in 20 games, a 1.80 point-per-game pace this season -- is all so impressive. But the importance of what he does for the Oilers is what makes it all so meaningful.
"You could put him in with a handful of guys in the League that are dominant like that," Tippett said. "I was fortunate to play a year with Mario Lemieux (1992-93) and saw some things like that out of him. But he's a special player, he can make something out of nothing."
McDavid scored at least one point in each of Edmonton's first 17 games before the streak ended in a 4-1 loss at the Dallas Stars on Nov. 23.
The Oilers played the next night at the Arizona Coyotes and McDavid scored a season-high four points (two goals, two assists) in a 5-3 win.
He has scored at least two points in 12 games, including at least three in five. McDavid has 18 points (nine goals, nine assists) at even strength and 18 (five goals, 13 assists) on the power play. He is winning 54.9 percent of his face-offs and playing 22:23 per game.
But most importantly to McDavid, the Oilers are 15-5-0 and second in the Pacific Division, one point behind the Calgary Flames.
"He's a pretty special player," Tippett said.
Voting totals (points awarded on a 5-4-3-2-1 basis): Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers, 69 points (eight first-place votes); Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals, 61 (four first-place votes); Leon Draisaitl, Oilers, 58 (two first-place votes); Troy Terry, Anaheim Ducks, 30 (two first-place votes); Jacob Markstrom, Calgary Flames, 10 (one first-place vote); Kyle Connor, Winnipeg Jets, 7; Johnny Gaudreau, Flames, 5; Frederik Andersen, Carolina Hurricanes, 3; Victor Hedman, Tampa Bay Lightning, 3; Brad Marchand, Boston Bruins, 3; Steven Stamkos, Lightning, 2; Jack Campbell, Toronto Maple Leafs, 2; Nazem Kadri, Colorado Avalanche, 1; Ryan Getzlaf, Ducks, 1