Hypothetical - does McDavid win the Conn Smythe even if Oilers lose the cup? Assuming he has an above average finals

[PettersonHughes]

He just might get the award. Whether he's actually the playoffs' most valuable player would be another discussion. The way that I look at MVPs would be the leading scorer on a championship team like Kucherov in 2021, or an all-around dynamo on the level of a Makar, Keith or Crosby. Of course these awards are narrative driven but, while McD is head and shoulders scoring stat-wise above everyone else, we can't necessarily say the same about his impact so I think either Bob or Barkov wins it.

 

[Video Nasty]

Barring a very stark turnaround, this series is going to haunt McDavid for some time to come. It’s not just that three assists isn’t good enough, it’s that a narrative has been created that he can be shut down when it matters most. Meanwhile, Barkov’s reputation is soaring.

This reminds me a lot of the ‘97 Finals, when Eric Lindros was just toying with the league and expected to lead the Flyers against a Detroit team that had a choker label from the previous years. Detroit completely shut him down, and the Lindros mystique was never quite the same after that. This situation isn’t quite as extreme, because McDavid has at least produced a little, but it definitely leaves a mark on his reputation that he didn’t exactly lead them in this series.

Lindros’s mystique was never quite the same after the 1997 Finals because he suffered 4-5 concussions and of course a collapsed lung over the next two years.

Unless something similar happens to McDavid, he’ll be fine. Let’s just assume they get swept.

In that case, I think it’s safe to expect a hellbent, fully healthy McDavid wreaking havoc for the entirety of the 2024-2025 season.

Zero doubt in my mind he leads them to a Cup win next year.

 

[Video Nasty]

And he's a missed lucky bounce (Broberg's goal off of Miikola yesterday) and Bobrovsky not giving up a weak goal (Ekholm goal in game 2) away from only having 1 point in 3 games.

He hasn't been playing well at all. The idea that he's actually playing to the level of having 8-9 points in 3 games if the bounces go well is just downright lunacy. It's making up a fantasy that anyone watching the games know is a complete farce.

That’s how good McDavid is. He can have 3 points off 4 Oilers goals in 3 games, a potential 8 or 9 points, and still be perceived as not playing well.

I’ve watched the games. He’s been better than most of the critics who are only box score watching have been claiming. And again, I can be reasonable and also acknowledge that still more is needed from him. He doesn’t play for a team like Crosby did who can cover up for him.

 

[Artemi Panarin]

Zero doubt in my mind he leads them to a Cup win next year.

That's the spirit! Cup or bust

 

[SavoieSeason]

Has he impressed you yet?

No. Barkov's calling is his defensive game, imagine what the narrative would be if Bobrovksy wasn't giving them superstar goaltending every night.

 

[WetcoastOrca]

Lindros’s mystique was never quite the same after the 1997 Finals because he suffered 4-5 concussions and of course a collapsed lung over the next two years.

Unless something similar happens to McDavid, he’ll be fine. Let’s just assume they get swept.

In that case, I think it’s safe to expect a hellbent, fully healthy McDavid wreaking havoc for the entirety of the 2024-2025 season.

Zero doubt in my mind he leads them to a Cup win next year.

So the same thing we’ve heard the last 2 years then.
Cup or bust again!
Captains skate one week earlier should do it?

 

[GreatGonzo]

Or maybe we can evaluate McDavid's performance in this series by watching him with our eyes and seeing he's not playing well, and any argument about "what about Sidney Crosby" is just trying to deflect away from the fact that McDavid isn't playing well. Crosby is entirely irrelevant to McDavid's performance in this series, which has been extremely disappointing relative to expectations for how he should be playing.

If pointing out what Crosby did in the past somehow makes you feel better about McDavid's bad performance and the Oilers being down 3-0 in this series, I guess you can do that. But for everyone else, we'll just continue watching McDavid be a disappointment as the Oilers get smoked in the finals.

Guy has 3 assists in 3 games, while the entire team has scored 4 goals. Secondary scoring and goaltending have been a bigger problem. One man can only do so much, but for you….he has to score all the points in order to not be a disappointment.

Again, your hate for McDavid shines brighter than your love for Crosby.

 

[WetcoastOrca]

Guy has 3 assists in 3 games, while the entire team has scored 4 goals. Secondary scoring and goaltending have been a bigger problem. One man can only do so much, but for you….he has to score all the points in order to not be a disappointment.

Again, your hate for McDavid shines brighter than your love for Crosby.

He had 1 point in the first two games and picked up some points late in game 3 and has zero goals in 3 games.
Not close to good enough for the best player in the league.
Secondary scoring has scored more goals than the Oilers top 5 regular season scorers who have zero goals. Lots of blame to spread around and a good chunk is on McDavid.
Your love for McDavid clouds your objectivity.

 

[Daishi]

If Oilers lose in 4 or 5 games there's zero (not figuratively) chance McDavid gets conn smythe. Bob 70% Barkov 29% 1% someone else on the Panthers is my guess.

That said, I don't hold McDavid responsible for the Oilers' loss. He's still been doing his thing but hockey is a team sport and the best defensive team in the world is up against him. Draisaitl on the other hand has failed miserably and should be ashamed about his performance. Skinner too, but that guy should've been ashamed for a couple years already and I've called for him to be shot to the moon at least two dozen times at HFBoards. Statistically the only goalie worse than him has been Dan Cloutier, and the eye test agrees. He likes to singlehandedly lose games for his team. He also has the weirdest cult following which defend the bum to whatever end.

 

[GreatGonzo]

Or maybe we can evaluate McDavid's performance in this series by watching him with our eyes and seeing he's not playing well, and any argument about "what about Sidney Crosby" is just trying to deflect away from the fact that McDavid isn't playing well. Crosby is entirely irrelevant to McDavid's performance in this series, which has been extremely disappointing relative to expectations for how he should be playing.

If pointing out what Crosby did in the past somehow makes you feel better about McDavid's bad performance and the Oilers being down 3-0 in this series, I guess you can do that. But for everyone else, we'll just continue watching McDavid be a disappointment as the Oilers get smoked in the finals.

Guy has 3 assists in 3 games, while the entire team has scored 4 games. What can one guy do? He doesn’t have the secondary scoring he had the previous rounds and Skinner went from inconsistent to down right horrible. Nurse and Ceci bleeding goals doesn’t help either.

That’s fine, your hate for McDavid shines brighter than your love for Crosby.

He had 1 point in the first two games and picked up some points late in game 3 and has zero goals in 3 games.
Not close to good enough for the best player in the league.
Secondary scoring has scored more goals than the Oilers top 5 regular season scorers who have zero goals. Lots of blame to spread around and a good chunk is on McDavid.
Your love for McDavid clouds your objectivity.

What would you consider “best player in the league” numbers then?

That’s a fine twist on the situation the whole team has scored 4 goals total. What scoring are you referring to? Hyman and Drai deserve just as much blame for not showing up at all.

Right…you continue to argue nonsense because your hate for McDavid makes up most of your posts.

 

[Pablo El Perro]

Guy has 3 assists in 3 games, while the entire team has scored 4 games. What can one guy do? He doesn’t have the secondary scoring he had the previous rounds and Skinner went from inconsistent to down right horrible. Nurse and Ceci bleeding goals doesn’t help either.

That’s fine, your hate for McDavid shines brighter than your love for Crosby.

This thread isn't about secondary scoring, but aren't goals from Foegle, Broberg, Ekholm, and McLeod just that?

 

[Cup or Bust]

This thread isn't about secondary scoring, but aren't goals from Foegle, Broberg, Ekholm, and McLeod just that?

I think the scoring issues are more Draisaitl, Hyman, and RNH. The Oilers can't win with nothing coming from those guys.

 

[BB88]

That’s how good McDavid is. He can have 3 points off 4 Oilers goals in 3 games, a potential 8 or 9 points, and still be perceived as not playing well.

I’ve watched the games. He’s been better than most of the critics who are only box score watching have been claiming. And again, I can be reasonable and also acknowledge that still more is needed from him. He doesn’t play for a team like Crosby did who can cover up for him.

He needs to score because he’s all offense

He was supposed to be on a completely different level as everyone else in this series& so far Bob/Barkov/Forsling are the story

 

[tarheelhockey]

Lindros’s mystique was never quite the same after the 1997 Finals because he suffered 4-5 concussions and of course a collapsed lung over the next two years.

I’m talking about the perception in the summer following that series. In about two weeks he went from “The Next One” to having a lot of questions asked which weren’t being asked in May 1997. Seeing him get systematically shut down and having his physicality neutralized was eye opening for a lot of people.

McDavid isn’t being completely erased to that extent, but people are going to be asking tough questions after this. It will be up to him to silence those questions, which Lindros never did.

 

[WetcoastOrca]

Guy has 3 assists in 3 games, while the entire team has scored 4 games. What can one guy do? He doesn’t have the secondary scoring he had the previous rounds and Skinner went from inconsistent to down right horrible. Nurse and Ceci bleeding goals doesn’t help either.

That’s fine, your hate for McDavid shines brighter than your love for Crosby.


What would you consider “best player in the league” numbers then?

That’s a fine twist on the situation the whole team has scored 4 goals total. What scoring are you referring to? Hyman and Drai deserve just as much blame for not showing up at all.

Right…you continue to argue nonsense because your hate for McDavid makes up most of your posts.

It’s ok bud. When I was a kid I couldn’t take criticism of any of my heroes either.
McDavid has been amazing! The bestest of the best.

 

[GreatGonzo]

This thread isn't about secondary scoring, but aren't goals from Foegle, Broberg, Ekholm, and McLeod just that?

4 goals…McDavid has assisted on 3 of them…where’s is this “secondary scoring”

It’s ok bud. When I was a kid I couldn’t take criticism of any of my heroes either.
McDavid has been amazing! The bestest of the best.

love the wannabe “big brother” talk. Either way, your going to continue making most of your day consists of trashing McDavid, so have fun with that.

Also, you’re really good at deflecting from questions.

 

[Cats2TheCup]

Lindros’s mystique was never quite the same after the 1997 Finals because he suffered 4-5 concussions and of course a collapsed lung over the next two years.

Unless something similar happens to McDavid, he’ll be fine. Let’s just assume they get swept.

In that case, I think it’s safe to expect a hellbent, fully healthy McDavid wreaking havoc for the entirety of the 2024-2025 season.

Zero doubt in my mind he leads them to a Cup win next year.

This is magical Disney thinking bro. He can wreak all the havoc he wants during the season. Once the playoffs start that shit won’t work agains the Panthers. He’s gotta dig a lot deeper, his whole team does, and the depths they gotta dig, I don’t think they have it in them. Zero doubt in your mind they’ll win the cup is wild.

No. Barkov's calling is his defensive game, imagine what the narrative would be if Bobrovksy wasn't giving them superstar goaltending every night.

Did you watch Shisterkin? Panthers won anyways. A lesson in there that losers can’t swallow.

 

[Kimota]

 

[SavoieSeason]

Did you watch Shisterkin? Panthers won anyways. A lesson in there that losers can’t swallow.

What? Lol the narrative around Barkov would be very different without Bob saving his bacon every night in these finals.

 

[RebuildinVan]

He had 1 point in the first two games and picked up some points late in game 3 and has zero goals in 3 games.
Not close to good enough for the best player in the league.
Secondary scoring has scored more goals than the Oilers top 5 regular season scorers who have zero goals. Lots of blame to spread around and a good chunk is on McDavid.
Your love for McDavid clouds your objectivity.

Seriously have you watched the finals? Im a neutral fan but McDavid is literally playing by himself most shifts Ive seen. Being down 3-0 is nothing to do with him

 

[Video Nasty]

This is magical Disney thinking bro. He can wreak all the havoc he wants during the season. Once the playoffs start that shit won’t work agains the Panthers. He’s gotta dig a lot deeper, his whole team does, and the depths they gotta dig, I don’t think they have it in them. Zero doubt in your mind they’ll win the cup is wild.

Magical Disney thinking is believing the Panthers will go deep over and over without ill effects. If the Panthers make a third consecutive Finals, they’ll be toast, ala the Lightning. And I enjoy Bob, but he’s due for another meltdown during next season.

 

[pb1300]

Magical Disney thinking is believing the Panthers will go deep over and over without ill effects. If the Panthers make a third consecutive Finals, they’ll be toast, ala the Lightning. And I enjoy Bob, but he’s due for another meltdown during next season.

Yes, the Bob meltdown. As in the words you guys loved using prior to the start of the SCF, I’ve heard that before.

Magical Disney thinking is believing the Oilers can build a team around McDrai that can beat a team like Florida in a 7 game series, when you have 10 million in cap space, and 9 spots to fill.

 

[Electric Blue]

Call me crazy, but I dont think he’ll win it

 

[bobholly39]

Lindros’s mystique was never quite the same after the 1997 Finals because he suffered 4-5 concussions and of course a collapsed lung over the next two years.

Unless something similar happens to McDavid, he’ll be fine. Let’s just assume they get swept.

In that case, I think it’s safe to expect a hellbent, fully healthy McDavid wreaking havoc for the entirety of the 2024-2025 season.

Zero doubt in my mind he leads them to a Cup win next year.

What a dumb comment.

That's not how it works. Making the finals is extremely hard. It's possible Oilers could make it again next year, but very likely it's not going to happen. If they want to win a cup - the time to do it is now, not next year.

It's easier to come back from 0-3 and beat Florida 4x straight - hell it'd be easier to come down from 0-6 against Florida and win 7 straight - then it would be to make the finals all over agian next year.

I really hope Oilers aren't already looking towards next year.

 

[stampedingviking]

nobody would ever guess reading this thread that McDavid has only 1 less point than Barkov this series

But is far, far worse defensively.