Connor McDavid and Gilbert Perreault: Similar Stylistically?

[JA]

I suppose I'll pose this question to everyone, and I am passing this judgment based on what I have seen of Connor McDavid over the past year. I have read quite a few comments lately claiming that a player like Connor McDavid has never been seen in the league before, that he is stylistically a unique player. While no two players can be exactly alike, I feel quite strongly that I've seen numerous players like McDavid in the past, but one really strikes me as being similar in various ways. The History of Hockey department of HFBoards recognizes that many fantastically-skilled players have played in the NHL over the past century or so; as such, it isn't impossible that we have seen a player like McDavid in the past.

I refer to the first overall selection of the 1970 NHL Entry Draft, Gilbert Perreault.

Perreault was a player of similar stature to McDavid, a 6'1'' 185 lb left-handed centerman. He was a terrific skater who possessed tremendous lateral mobility and whose stride many called unique due to Perreault's "bow-legged" stance. He had fantastic hands and took advantage of that gift:

http://sabreslegends.blogspot.ca/2006/12/gilbert-perreault.html

Gilbert was one of the greatest one-on-one players ever. He had more tricks up his sleeve than the rest of his teammates combined.

"In my day, offensive players did a lot more skating and stickhandling, changing speed, dekeing two guys and making plays in the offensive zone. I loved the thrill of beating everyone on the ice, dekeing through the opposition. When I got the puck, I'd dare them to try to get it away from me.

...

"In my first seasons, Imlach told me to go for goals and not worry about checking. That really helped me get my confidence. The first few years I was there, it was loose. I was rushing the puck a lot. We had style." He (Punch Imlach) showed me video tapes of me in games to prove I was shifting one way too much. He got me to shoot faster; not to nurse the puck for careful aiming. He also wanted me to shoot more and to cut down on what he called 'walking in' on the goalie, something I developed on finding my slap shot wasn't hard enough."

Perreault, using his speed, shiftiness and hands, frequently deked around opposition players and went dashing towards the opposing goal.




He was also a gifted playmaker, as his French Connection linemates Rene Robert and Rick Martin knew quite well. In his best statistical NHL season, 1975-76, he had 44 goals and 69 assists in 80 games played -- he finished ninth in goals scored, third in assists, and third in points in the league.

Like Perreault, McDavid's greatest assets are his skating and stickhandling abilities. He is also a great playmaker. In the current 2014-15 OHL playoffs, he has 18 goals and 18 assists in 13 games, showing that he can be just as much of a goal scorer as a playmaker. His shot is his weakest attribute, and many of his scoring chances are the result of terrific stickhandling on the rush or goals around the net. He offers a very similar overall package to what the NHL saw with Gilbert Perreault.

I would like to hear your thoughts. Is this an apt comparison?

 

[Soundwave]

There are similarities particularly in how both seem to be able to keep the puck on their stick like it's on velcro or something.

Though McDavid is so explosive in his skating and ability to do things at a high rate of speed, he reminds me oddly enough a Canadian-center version of Pavel Bure with Sidney Crosby mixed in.

There's more electricity to his game.

 

[Thenameless]

McDavid looks quicker, but choppier to me. I remember Perreault as smoother.

 

[Barnum]

Gilbert Perreault?!?! Veteran of over 1200 NHL games is similar to; never played in the NHL Conner McDavid?


Okay....

 

[Hardyvan123]

Gilbert Perreault?!?! Veteran of over 1200 NHL games is similar to; never played in the NHL Conner McDavid?


Okay....

While I don't like player comps most of the time, the OP did say stylistically and David is much more advanced against his peers at the same stages of both players career right now.

at least give some respect to a generational talent here.

 

[Quatre Vingt Treize]

I think Perrault had better linemates in junior.

 

[JA]

While I don't like player comps most of the time, the OP did say stylistically and David is much more advanced against his peers at the same stages of both players career right now.

at least give some respect to a generational talent here.

That's right. I did specify that this is a comparison of style of play.





He looks a lot like Perreault to me.

 

[bogart]

Do we really need threads about undrafted players in the History forum?

 

[JA]

Do we really need threads about undrafted players in the History forum?

I wouldn't mind seeing this moved to the General forum. I think it's a fair comparison of two players whose on-ice styles of play resemble one another. There have been past threads in the History section comparing current players to past players as well, so this type of discussion is not unprecedented here. I've seen far too many people compare Connor McDavid to Pavel Datsyuk, but that comparison makes no sense as they are hardly alike. I felt inclined to offer a more appropriate comparable.

 

[solidmotion]

not sure i really see the perrault comparison, but it's hard to tell with the game looking so different. i think probably the most direct comparisons, tho they're a bit boring and obvious, are to active players/recent top draft picks -- i'm seeing a lot of crosby, malkin and mackinnon.

 

[Cloned]

McDavid is faster than Perreault IMO, his skating and acceleration are more explosive.

 

[FDBluth]

McDavid shows a lot of qualities from a lot of different players. He has that electrifying speed like Bure, hands like Patrick Kane, IQ like Crosby and a body type like Stamkos. Not a bad player.

 

[Stephen]

McDavid's mechanics remind me of Pavel Datsyuk. Not quite explosive but very smooth and effortless looking. Also looks lighter on his feet than Crosby.

 

[sr edler]

McDavid is faster than Perreault IMO, his skating and acceleration are more explosive.

He's fast alright, but can his finish match up to his speed or will the puck get lost of off his blade in the shuffle?

I've seen some videos of McBaby where his finish didn't seem to match up to his speed. How is he projected as a goal scorer?

Gilbert Perreault?!?! Veteran of over 1200 NHL games is similar to; never played in the NHL Conner McDavid?


Okay....

The OP said stylistically.

 

[Big Phil]

I see Perreault from the standpoint of things being effortless when you watch McDavid. Each player seemed to have that. You also knew Perreault was going to do something fantastic each game and you assumed each shift. He was never boring. He didn't just hit the red line and dump the puck in. I see the same thing with McDavid, he just simply creates things with his explosive style.

A bigger and much better playmaking Bure I can see a bit too. The 0 to 60 acceleration is apparent. Look at him on that shorthanded goal the other night. He just took off like a rocket. That's the thing, when do you see McDavid caught on a breakaway? I don't remember Bure ever being caught on a breakaway by someone. I'm sure it happened but they are similar that way.

Remember too, Crosby was compared stylistically to a cross of Forsberg and Dionne. He was an incredible junior player, but McDavid does have the more explosive speed and skating. It is overwhelming. Crosby did not have overwhelming speed, just good speed.


Lastly, here's the thing with McDavid, he reminds me of Gretzky..............hold on.............in the way that he seems to keep the pedal to the metal all the time. Look at the other night, he had 4 assists in a 7-5 win. He won that game. He just singlehandedly wins games all the time. Crosby over his NHL career has gotten a little more robotic and has failed to put his foot on the throats of opponents as time has gone on. Gretzky always finished the job regardless of the score and McDavid seems to be the same way. So long as the Oilers let him play his game (and they will) then I can see that type of "never take a shift off" mentality that none other than Gretzky himself had.

 

[authentic]

He's fast alright, but can his finish match up to his speed or will the puck get lost of off his blade in the shuffle?

I've seen some videos of McBaby where his finish didn't seem to match up to his speed. How is he projected as a goal scorer?




The OP said stylistically.

The kid has 18 goals in 13 playoff games so far, so I don't really think he has any problem finishing.

As for the Perreault comparison, I can definitely see where the OP is coming from.

 

[JA]

McDavid is faster than Perreault IMO, his skating and acceleration are more explosive.

Perreault was no slouch. He was among the best overall skaters in the NHL during his time. At some points he was considered to be one of the fastest too.

1976 Coaches Poll: Best Skater - Bobby Orr (Gilbert Perreault, Rick Macleish, Errol Thompson)
1976 Coaches Poll: Fastest Skater - Yvan Cournoyer (Marcel Dionne, Bobby Orr, Gilbert Perreault, Inge Hammarstrom)

1984 Coaches Poll: Best Skater - Paul Coffey (Denis Savard, Rick Middleton, Mike Gartner, Gilbert Perreault)

Perreault has the closest overall skill set, in my opinion. He was very quick, deceptive, and his first tendency was to stickhandle past multiple players in the offensive zone with his superior hands. He had strong playmaking abilities, and was known for his end-to-end rushes. His shot wasn't his greatest asset, so he dazzled with fancy stickwork. He was purely a finesse player, which is how I see McDavid.

Connor resembles Bure in the explosive department, but he lacks the edge that Bure had and also isn't quite the same sniper that Bure was. In fact, many have noted that McDavid's worst attribute is his shot, and he isn't likely to score from afar, explaining why he scores many of his goals around the net. McDavid also doesn't position himself much like how Bure did; Bure was everywhere, covering all of the ice similar to how Patrick Kane positions himself. He hounded the puck. McDavid likes to park himself below the goal line in the offensive zone and drift around the crease. Bure was also part power forward; he played a tenacious, gritty game and had a physical dimension.

 

[Johnny Engine]

In the posted highlights, at least, both players seem to be constantly looking for a pass, which causes defenders to back off them a bit, which in turn allows them to just waltz through entire teams by themselves.

The very definition of "heads up" players.

 

[BenchBrawl]

I'm always hesitant when a player relies a lot on his speed.I didn't watch McDavid many games so I can't comment but every poster is talking about his speed.

Perreault looked fast, but I think his greatest skating ability was agility, not speed.Being able to fake left and right equally as well and being unpredictable.Being able to hide where your skating strikes are taking you.That's the hardest/rarest skating skill.Lemieux had it, Gretzky had it, Lafleur had it, Orr had it, Jagr had it and so did Perreault.I know Perreault isn't seen as good as the rest of this group but he had a massive hockey talent.He ranks very high on the list of puck controllers.

 

[Thenameless]

Do we really need threads about undrafted players in the History forum?

It's appropriate because a lot of the members in the non-History forums might not know Perreault that well.

 

[Big Phil]

Connor resembles Bure in the explosive department, but he lacks the edge that Bure had and also isn't quite the same sniper that Bure was. In fact, many have noted that McDavid's worst attribute is his shot, and he isn't likely to score from afar, explaining why he scores many of his goals around the net. McDavid also doesn't position himself much like how Bure did; Bure was everywhere, covering all of the ice similar to how Patrick Kane positions himself. He hounded the puck. McDavid likes to park himself below the goal line in the offensive zone and drift around the crease. Bure was also part power forward; he played a tenacious, gritty game and had a physical dimension.

Yeah, Bure had that howitzer of a shot too. That great one-timer. It was lethal. Much in the way Brett Hull or Steve Stamkos do it. But Bure could also hammer the puck on the fly. Remember that shot from the blue line that was just a rocket past Cujo back in the early 2000s? I'm not sure McDavid could score a goal like that, but that's fine, because neither could Gretzky really. When you have the electrifying abilities of McDavid you'll get to the net one way or another.

I'm not sure if he quite has Bure's acceleration (because quite frankly that might be tops all-time) but the kid sure reminds you of a rocket when he takes off for a loose puck.

 

[Smart Alek]

I would like to hear your thoughts. Is this an apt comparison?

I must admit that I was HIGHLY skeptical of your claim when I first read it back in the day (all of 10 minutes ago), though I was relying only on highlights I've seen sporadically over the years.

After watching the clips you provided, I must say I'm blown away by the comparison. Are they identical players? Of course not. Do I think they will have similar careers, relative to their peers? No. But stylistically, which is all you were claiming, yeah... I see it. Again, not more than half the time, say... but more than any other player yet.

Well done!

 

[DisgruntledGoat*]

Paul Kariya?

 

[5 14 6 1]

He's fast alright, but can his finish match up to his speed or will the puck get lost of off his blade in the shuffle?

I've seen some videos of McBaby where his finish didn't seem to match up to his speed. How is he projected as a goal scorer?




The OP said stylistically.

The quality that makes McDavid so special IS his ability to do everything at a high speed, including stick handle, finish and think the game, all while skating faster then pretty much everyone on the ice.

 

[Soundwave]

I'm always hesitant when a player relies a lot on his speed.I didn't watch McDavid many games so I can't comment but every poster is talking about his speed.

Perreault looked fast, but I think his greatest skating ability was agility, not speed.Being able to fake left and right equally as well and being unpredictable.Being able to hide where your skating strikes are taking you.That's the hardest/rarest skating skill.Lemieux had it, Gretzky had it, Lafleur had it, Orr had it, Jagr had it and so did Perreault.I know Perreault isn't seen as good as the rest of this group but he had a massive hockey talent.He ranks very high on the list of puck controllers.

McDavid's agility is outstanding.