Kings finally will get a closer look at Oilers rookie Connor McDavid

Enough of the superficial Internet highlights or even extended viewings of Edmonton rookie Connor McDavid on TV.

Hockey anthropologists — in this case, the Kings — are curious and eager for a closer examination of the No. 1 overall draft pick, McDavid, the potential franchise savior. They will be getting an early look here Sunday night at the youngster, a mere eight games into the season.

“Looking forward to it,” Kings Coach Darryl Sutter said Friday.

The 18-year-old already has five goals and eight points in eight games, including four goals in his last four games. Of late he has been centering Benoit Pouliot and Nail Yakupov.

Depending on matchups and the Kings’ ability to stay out of the penalty box, Kings center Anze Kopitar could spend plenty of time going up against McDavid.

“I guess I’m going to see it firsthand,” said Kopitar, shortly after the Kings beat Carolina on Friday night, 3-0, for their fourth straight victory.

“It should be fun.”

He admitted to being curious.

“For sure. You want to see how he matches up against a team like us,” Kopitar said. “Usually we make it pretty hard on skilled guys, so we’ll see how it goes.”

Said Kings defenseman Jake Muzzin: “I know as much as what you guys know. He’s got a lot of hype and rightfully so. He’s a special talent. There’s guys in the league that you have to keep an eye out for, a little extra attention, and he’s going to be one of them.”

The Oilers, who haven’t made the playoffs since 2006, are slowly moving in the right direction. But even with McDavid, it is going to take time. They are 3-5 under new Coach Todd McLellan.

“We’re growing as a team, but we can’t afford to have four or five guys not with us,” McLellan told reporters after the Washington Capitals beat the Oilers, 7-4, on Friday night.

The Canadian-born Kings recognize the extra level of scrutiny attached to McDavid, who was billed as a generational talent long before his final season in major junior hockey last season.

“Being in Canada and from Canada, he’s got a lot of pressure on him,” said Muzzin, who grew up in Woodstock, Ontario. “I think he’s done a good job so far.

“…We’ve got to play him like anyone else. Play him hard, play him physical. We’ve got to play our game if we want to win.”

Kings right wing Tyler Toffoli said he had heard some “crazy things” about McDavid’s playmaking abilities.

But …

“I played against Sidney Crosby and that was pretty cool,” Toffoli said. “I’m more worried playing Sidney than McDavid right now…. I’m still in awe of playing Sid.”

UP NEXT FOR THE KINGS

at Edmonton

When: 6:30 p.m. PDT, Sunday.

On the air: TV: Fox Sports West. Radio: 790.

Etc: Remember the Andrej Sekera era? His run with the Kings was a mere 16 games. The defenseman signed with the Oilers as an unrestricted free agent in July and is playing top-four minutes in Edmonton with four assists in eight games.

lisa.dillman@latimes.com

Twitter: @reallisa