crowfish
Registered User
- Jun 3, 2011
- 1,053
- 1,379
To get back on the main topic of the thread, here is a list of reasons why McDavid has already proven he is in a tier above Crosby. I don't even think it's particularly close at all. This list is just going to grow each year, and the coping and reality denial from the Crosby side is just going to get worse. I am going to enjoy watching it.
2nd unanimous MVP in NHL history
McDavid is the only player to do it besides Wayne Gretzky, who only did it twice. Note that McDavid would have done this twice as well had it not been for that pathetic Pittsburgh beat writer voting him 5th in MVP voting after one of the best seasons in history. Imagine being that butthurt and petty. Some Penguins fans need to accept that It's okay for your guy to be the 2nd best of the modern game, there is no shame in that.
5 Ross + 3 Hart
I specified these 2 trophies because I believe they are by far the most prestigious individual awards and the most relevant for measuring individual talent for forwards. The Ted Lindsey is good as well for modern players, but historically the voting was a bit weird for that one. The only players in NHL history who have at least McDavids totals for these 2 trophies are: Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, and Gordie Howe. McDavid has only played 9 seasons so far, and yet nobody in NHL history besides the 3 greatest forwards ever to play have more of these trophies than him. Crosby has 2 Ross + 2 Hart and isn't even close to joining this list.
Led the league in goals & assists in the same season
This sounds less impressive than what it is, but let me explain why this is a big deal. Firstly, it has only been done by 3 other players: Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux and Gordie Howe. The reason this is such a rare achievement is because goals and assists negatively correlate with each other. If you get an assist, that is a goal you didn't get and if you get a goal that is an assist you did not get. To win each category you need to beat out the specialists like Ovechkin, Matthews etc, which is already unlikely, but then you have to also lead the league in assists at the same time. It is a crazy difficult thing to do. This achievement is a mark of true dominance, which is why only the 3 greatest forwards ever had done it before McDavid. Note, I am only including players who also led the league in goals/game & assists/game to get a true list of "best goal scorer + best player maker" in the same season. Crosby was never remotely close to doing this.
A few more elite lists:
40+ points in a single playoff run
Only done by 3 players: Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Connor McDavid
150+ points in 3 consecutive seasons (regular + playoffs)
Only done by 3 players: Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Connor McDavid
Players in the 60 goal club & 100 assist club
Only done by 3 players: Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Connor McDavid
Top 5 in Hart voting 8 consecutive seasons
Only done by 3 players: Wayne Gretzky, Gordie Howe, Connor McDavid
Pts/game rankings regular season
1) Gretzky, 2) Lemieux, 3) McDavid
Pts/game rankings playoffs
1) Gretzky, 2) Lemieux, 3) McDavid
In summary, McDavid seems to be on a lot of lists that ONLY the greatest forwards ever are on, and those lists do not include Crosby.
2nd unanimous MVP in NHL history
McDavid is the only player to do it besides Wayne Gretzky, who only did it twice. Note that McDavid would have done this twice as well had it not been for that pathetic Pittsburgh beat writer voting him 5th in MVP voting after one of the best seasons in history. Imagine being that butthurt and petty. Some Penguins fans need to accept that It's okay for your guy to be the 2nd best of the modern game, there is no shame in that.
5 Ross + 3 Hart
I specified these 2 trophies because I believe they are by far the most prestigious individual awards and the most relevant for measuring individual talent for forwards. The Ted Lindsey is good as well for modern players, but historically the voting was a bit weird for that one. The only players in NHL history who have at least McDavids totals for these 2 trophies are: Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, and Gordie Howe. McDavid has only played 9 seasons so far, and yet nobody in NHL history besides the 3 greatest forwards ever to play have more of these trophies than him. Crosby has 2 Ross + 2 Hart and isn't even close to joining this list.
Led the league in goals & assists in the same season
This sounds less impressive than what it is, but let me explain why this is a big deal. Firstly, it has only been done by 3 other players: Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux and Gordie Howe. The reason this is such a rare achievement is because goals and assists negatively correlate with each other. If you get an assist, that is a goal you didn't get and if you get a goal that is an assist you did not get. To win each category you need to beat out the specialists like Ovechkin, Matthews etc, which is already unlikely, but then you have to also lead the league in assists at the same time. It is a crazy difficult thing to do. This achievement is a mark of true dominance, which is why only the 3 greatest forwards ever had done it before McDavid. Note, I am only including players who also led the league in goals/game & assists/game to get a true list of "best goal scorer + best player maker" in the same season. Crosby was never remotely close to doing this.
A few more elite lists:
40+ points in a single playoff run
Only done by 3 players: Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Connor McDavid
150+ points in 3 consecutive seasons (regular + playoffs)
Only done by 3 players: Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Connor McDavid
Players in the 60 goal club & 100 assist club
Only done by 3 players: Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Connor McDavid
Top 5 in Hart voting 8 consecutive seasons
Only done by 3 players: Wayne Gretzky, Gordie Howe, Connor McDavid
Pts/game rankings regular season
1) Gretzky, 2) Lemieux, 3) McDavid
Pts/game rankings playoffs
1) Gretzky, 2) Lemieux, 3) McDavid
In summary, McDavid seems to be on a lot of lists that ONLY the greatest forwards ever are on, and those lists do not include Crosby.