I feel quite vindicated with this thread. A lot of people laughed at the beginning, not so many laughing now. The number of people who think McDavid can't end up #2 overall are fewer and fewer and their arguments against the notion weaker and weaker.
If (big if), Oilers come back and complete the reverse sweep and McDavid breaks Gretzky's playoff point record (needs 4 points in 2 games), this might be the greatest playoff performance ever.
EDIT: I'm wrong, he needs 6 points in 2 games to pass Gretzky. Not nearly as plausible but still can happen.
No, he's not. He's above them all save maybe Crosby (who he will pass regardless). If he wins the cup this year he's undisputed 5th best of all-time and in fact probably already is.
It very well already may be the best playoff run ever. He has already tied the all time single season lead over second place (10 points by Gretzky twice) and has the most over a non teammate (20 points with Gretzky having 18 twice). The raw numbers already have it among the four very best we have ever seen but when era adjusted it is the best we have ever seen.
Historical playoff league averages:
EVG: 2.03, PPG: 0.74, SHG: 0.10
23-24 McDavid:
23 GP: 8 G, 36 A, 44 PTS (1.91)
08-09 Malkin:
24 GP: 14 G, 23 A, 37 PTS (1.54)
90-91 Lemieux:
23 GP: 13 G, 24 A, 37 PTS (1.61)
84-85 Gretzky:
18 GP: 13 G, 22 A, 35 PTS (1.94)
92-93 Gretzky:
24 GP: 13 G, 21 A, 34 PTS (1.42)
83-84 Gretzky:
19 GP: 12 G, 21 A, 33 PTS (1.74)
Not only is it the best but it is close to the adjusted record for playoff ppg (Gretzky ‘85) and he almost has it off of assists alone. To me this makes it very arguable for best playoff ever with all context considered.