Greatest GM of all time vs Connor McDavid

[Mirka the Turka]

You can either get the greatest GM of all time (whoever you think that is) or Connor McDavid on your team tomorrow. Who do you pick?

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[DrunkTurtle]

Who even would be the greatest GM of all time in 2025?

 

[Dr John Carlson]

I can't watch the GM play hockey. Obviously you'd take McDavid.

 

[WarriorofTime]

Greatest GM probably needs 10 years to realize their advantage. GM’ing has too much luck involved in the process that can’t be controlled as easily.

 

[ponder719]

I don't trust our current GM to surround McDavid and Michkov with sufficient talent to win a Cup.

While I think Sam Pollock was the greatest GM of all time, I think for this purpose I'm resurrecting Keith Allen, because the biggest problem with the Flyers is that we need someone in that job who the Foundational Titans will show deference to, rather than the other way around, and Allen was the man they all owe their careers to. Get him up to speed with modern rules, get the Titans to shut the F up and let the man work, and I think we finally have something going.

 

[aylib]

I pick Doug Risebrough

 

[Sasha Orlov]

I’m taking Marc Bergevin

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

I'm taking McDavid , free playoffs

 

[tarheelhockey]

Assuming we’re talking about Sam Pollock, the typical favorite as greatest GM.

McDavid
Pro:
- Best individual player in the league for at least the short term future
- Plays center, which makes him easy to build a competitive team around
- Hungry for a Cup so you can count on him giving you his best

Con:
- You’re really only getting the back end of his career, when he might decline
- Not the easiest player to build around, as we saw with the Oilers taking some time to get it right
- Presumably you’d have to deal with the cap consequences which could make it even harder to build around him


Pollock
Pro:
- Excellent evaluator of talent, masterful in building development systems
- Bold about taking advantage of other GMs’ vulnerabilities
- Proven ability to re-tool championship teams on the fly

Con:
- His success was largely based in the days before the entry draft, a system which no longer exists
- He had tremendous financial advantages which don’t exist in a cap world
- He is dead, which will limit his effectiveness as a leader


On balance, I’d take my chances with McDavid.

 

[Golden_Jet]

With 4 nations break, guess this is summer down time now.

Went with McDavid, and thus will go with second best GM

 

[JaegerDice]

Does this have to be an actual GM, or can it be some hypothetical 'GOAT GM'?

I can't think of a specific GM I would take over McDavid off the top of my head, but I'm inclined to take the hypothetical 'GOAT GM,' at least as a concept.

The reason being, looking back at some of the consensus best players in the world:

Wayne Gretzky: Played 20 seasons, won 4 cups.

Mario Lemieux: Played 17 seasons, won 2 cups.

Gordie Howe: Played 26 seasons, won 4 cups.

Sidney Crosby: Played 19 seasons (so far), won 3 cups.

Etc.

There are A LOT of teams that win the cup WITHOUT the best current player in the world on their roster.

Indeed, more individual rosters have won the cup without the best player on Earth than have won it with.

So if I could have some hypothetical GOAT GM that would always make the right call, make the right deal, pick the right player... I'd take that guy.

 

[dirtydanglez]

give me sam pollock

 

[Dumais]

long term VS short term
gradual VS immediate
dynasty VS trophies

 

[MCR74]

Who even would be the greatest GM of all time in 2025?

Kyle Dubas.

 

[bobbyking]

greatest gm is bowman but ok

 

[SirPaste]

Trick question, the Greatest GM of all time would find out a way to get McDavid.

 

[Rowlet]

The best GM will always be in the mix of contenders.

The Oilers pissed away a lot of McDavid's years with shitty GMs.

I'll take the GM, they don't get injured as easily.

 

[BigDaddyLurch]

I’m taking Marc Bergevin

 

[Poppy Whoa Sonnet]

In 2025 I don't believe the greatest GM of all time has any real significant edge, front offices are collaborative efforts with input from coaching/scouting/analytics and finally the owner. If we are talking like 50 years ago when scouting and analytics were very immature, then possibly the greatest GM is more valuable but probably not.

 

[Slats432]

The GM for sure. With him you get great scouting, top coaches, great trades, and smart decisions. As of right now, McDavid has got Edmonton zero cups. Mostly likely because the Oilers have had the opposite of the GOAT of GMs.

 

[Realgud]

Con:
- He is dead, which will limit his effectiveness as a leader

Valid point

 

[BigDaddyLurch]

Sam Pollock

 

[Realgud]

With 4 nations break, guess this is summer down time now.

Went with McDavid, and thus will go with second best GM

Ok. Went with best GM, and thus I get Gretzky!

 

[Sam de Mtl]

Pollock
- He is dead, which will limit his effectiveness as a leader


On balance, I’d take my chances with McDavid.

I gotta side with you here. You won me over!

 

[Lshap]

Assuming we’re talking about Sam Pollock, the typical favorite as greatest GM.

Pollock
Pro:
- Excellent evaluator of talent, masterful in building development systems
- Bold about taking advantage of other GMs’ vulnerabilities
- Proven ability to re-tool championship teams on the fly

Con:
- His success was largely based in the days before the entry draft, a system which no longer exists
- He had tremendous financial advantages which don’t exist in a cap world
- He is dead, which will limit his effectiveness as a leader

On balance, I’d take my chances with McDavid.

I'd take the guy who could build a complete roster over the individual who could score the most goals.

That said, I agree Pollock couldn't lap the field like he did 50 years ago. Still, I'd like to think a generational GM would adapt and find a way to win, just like I think generational players from yesterday would adapt and thrive.

I disagree that being dead is a disadvantage. Sam Pollock was intimidating when he was alive. Getting a call from the ghost of Sam Pollock would be much scarier. If your tea leaves suddenly spell "Send me your 1st-round pick", there is no negotiation.