Assuming 82 games played, 53 goals is the minimum and the dreaded “pace” is currently 70 goals. I think it’s fair to think 60.
Career GPG coming into this season was 0.4908, so simply hitting his overall career pace lands him at 53 goals this season.
However, this factors in his first two seasons where he scored 46 goals in 127 games (0.3622 GPG). He scored 193 goals in 360 games between 2017-2018 and 2021-2022, which is 0.5361 GPG. That would land at 55 goals this season.
He had 77 goals in 136 goals the past two seasons, which is 0.5662 GPG. That would land him at 57 goals this season.
As noted by a few of the watchful before the season started, McDavid worked on his shot during the offseason and these few were reminded of Crosby’s determination to lead the league in goals. He’s currently at 0.8529 GPG on the season. I think the sweet spot is somewhere in the middle of his last couple of seasons and this season. That would land him at 64 goals.
65+ goals would not shock me in the slightest, but I think it’s fairly safe to think that he pots 31 goals in the remaining 49 games to hit 60.
Side note: If he scores 32 more goals this season and finishes with 61, he’ll have 300 career goals.