Is it safe to say that Nathan MacKinnon is a better hockey player than Connor McDavid

[GirardSpinorama]

It's safe to say he is on a vastly deeper team surrounded by much better talent at every position than McDavid is.

And Mack will be on a vastly more talented for the foreseeable future.

 

[aufheben]

It’s not safe to say if you have to ask.

 

[hskey]

No, but I'd way rather have MacKinnon at 6.3 than McDavid at 12.5

 

[GirardSpinorama]

No, but I'd way rather have MacKinnon at 6.3 than McDavid at 12.5

Yup. I think its hard to take any player over McDavid since he is that ridiculously talented, but at 6.3, Mack is probably the only better hockey asset in the NHL.

 

[780il]

lol

lol x 2

 

[ConnorMcMullet]

No. He's not.

The argument I think is more interesting is whether Cale Makar is the best defenseman in the league. When he was healthy, no one was at his level this regular season and he's elevated his game for the playoffs. I'd take him over Hedman going into next year.

 

[lawrence]

After watching these playoffs and after watching both MacKinnon and McDavid, I have come to the conclusion that Nathan MacKinnon is a better all round player than Connor McDavid(this can all change of course.)

MacKinnon can do it all, hit, score, take over games, MacKinnon is a freak of nature, kind of like a young Sidney Crosby.

would love to see them switch places. Mack would suffer the same fate as the Oilers have they swapped places.

 

[koyvoo]

I can understand it maybe not seeming so in the moment, but I’d be shocked if this isn’t considered a ridiculous notion 15 years from now.

 

[zizbuka]

I think MacKinnon could do the same.

But you don't know do ya? Personally I think MacKinnon is the best player in the league, but it's apples to oranges.

 

[MattySnipes]

I love MacK's aggressiveness and determination especially in the playoffs. He has this extra gear for the real season, very reminiscent to me of young Crosby.

He's a super talent and definitely one of my favourite's to watch. Rantanen is also a beauty.

And...Avs fans don't kill me but I think Makar will end up being your best player within a few years. He is so much fun to watch. Y'all are lucky.

 

[johan f]

Yes of course. McDavid is quick and skilled. That’s it. No true centerplayer. He plays like a winger with zero hockey iq. Rushing like on pond hockey.

 

[ConnorMcMullet]

I can understand it maybe not seeming so in the moment, but I’d be shocked if this isn’t considered a ridiculous notion 15 years from now.

It reminds me of the Crosby vs Toews debate.

Back when the Hawks won the Cup in 2013 and 2015, people made the argument that Toews was the better player than Crosby. Or opinions along the lines of "Crosby is the better player, but Toews is the type of player you win with" or "Crosby puts up the points, but if I'm picking a player for the playoffs, I go Toews 10/10".

So I find it kind of funny when people compare MacK to a young Crosby.

 

[Roksta]

lol what a shit tier thread McDavid on the avs would shred the playoffs even more than Mac

its like that stupid Toews/Crosby comparison again

 

[tiburon12]

Not sure it's safe to say based on these playoffs alone, considering what McDavid just did in the regular season.

But it is fair to say that only MacK is playing with that extra gear McDavid had during the regular season.

 

[vanarchy]

This is not a simple 1v1 comparison.

Look at Colorado's roster and then look at Edmonton's. Sheesh.

 

[Mattb124]

Dumb thread. You flip the two players and Edmonton is still bad, but the Avs get better.

There is an argument that McDavid is less able to overcome the lack of calls that occur in the playoffs, but he is still a much better player with a much worse supporting cast.

 

[jetsforever]

I hate the Oilers but come on, these threads are getting ridiculous.

 

[Oddbob]

Why is he better? Pretty sure one plays on a getting stacked team, while the other plays on a team where he and a few others are it.

 

[Guttersniped]

It reminds me of the Crosby vs Toews debate.

Back when the Hawks won the Cup in 2013 and 2015, people made the argument that Toews was the better player than Crosby. Or opinions along the lines of "Crosby is the better player, but Toews is the type of player you win with" or "Crosby puts up the points, but if I'm picking a player for the playoffs, I go Toews 10/10".

So I find it kind of funny when people compare MacK to a young Crosby.

lol what a shit tier thread McDavid on the avs would shred the playoffs even more than Mac

its like that stupid Toews/Crosby comparison again

I know these are just single random fans’ takes but this actually make me wish that McDavid will personally never have any success in playoffs ever and will have to watch MacKinnon have lots success in the playoffs on tv. And I’m not remotely an Avs fan nor do I dislike McDavid but damn the smugness of some of this is too much.

McDavid did jack shit in playoffs and you can’t completely blame his team for him not remotely being the best forward in any the four games.

MacKinnon kicked it up a notch starting in the last playoffs and McDavid can do the same in future playoffs. And, yes, that requires individual effort and I believe “the best player in world” is up to that sort of thing but I guess his super fans have to rabidly defend his honor rather than demand more from him.

 

[Islay1989]

As an Avs fan, I don't give a toss how Mack is rated.

But I do enjoy the inane drivel by the Edmonton fans. McDavid hAs nO suPPorT! Meanwhile, Draisaitl is better than Mackinnon, Nurse should win the Norris, Barrie leads all defensemen in scoring, Yamamoto is amazing, RNH was the right pick over Landeskog .... Make up your damn mind and stick to the narrative.

 

[Killer Orca]

One thing I've realized between Mack and McDavid is whoever you think is better the other is not far behind at all.

 

[McRpro]

Yes of course. McDavid is quick and skilled. That’s it. No true centerplayer. He plays like a winger with zero hockey iq. Rushing like on pond hockey.

All that's missing here is you proclaiming McDavid has 'ok hands'. Are you also a Sens fan?

 

[AMDZen]

In a couple years, barring injury, Makar will make this argument moot. Taking over as the best player in the world

 

[Niten Ichi Ryu]

As an Oilers fan, who watches McDavid every night, I'll say this; In the regular season, no one is even close to McDavid. His separation from the rest of the pack is Gretzky-like, and can do things in the offensive zone that I have never seen any hockey player do or even attempt. The combination of speed, hockey IQ and stick mastery results in the most electrifying player since Mario Lemieux.

In the playoffs, we've only seen him play 3 series, in a 6 year span, so it is kind of hard to gauge what he's capable of in a deep playoff run. That being said, there was a poll in the Oilers threads after game 4 of the Jets sweep, titled who are you disappointed in the most for playoff performance? McDavid received almost half of the votes (of a poll with over 12 choices), by far the #1 choice (@ 45%, with Dave Tippett finishing 2nd @ 16%), and it was warranted.

The playoffs, everyone has to be on the same page, synchronized, and almost robotic like. Finishing your checks, back checking, forechecking, sacrifice, shot blocking and any aspect of a complete 200 foot game. It's pretty obvious he needs major work on his defensive zone game, including his faceoffs. He was ghosted in game 1 and 2, and it almost seemed easy for them to do it. Everyone saw the McDavid giveaway in 3OT in game 4 that ultimately sealed their fate.
We haven't seen him dominate a series yet, not even close to what MacKinnon has done time and time again.

MacKinnon is a God in the post-season. He's been in the playoffs 5 times in his NHL career and his worst playoff performance was being a point per game player (2018 6 pts in 6 games). Even in his rookie season, he had 10 pts in the 7 games they played in April 2014. Last season he was on pace to finish in the top 20 all time in playoff points, would he have made it to the finals.
Now, history could be in the making; he's at 2.40 pts per game! If we assume they go to the finals, and he plays 20 games altogether in the 2021 playoffs, maintaining that 2.40 pts/game, he would finish with 48 pts, and break Gretzky's record of most pts in a playoff season with 47 pts. Gretzky. He can break the Great One's record, and possibly win the Conn Smythe and Stanley Cup along with it. That is absolutely legendary. We are seeing a master of the game manifest into his prime, and what a sight to behold.

Now, Connor McDavid is also only 24 years old, and literally every single season he has gotten better. I hope he does get criticized heavily in the summer, and that he takes it to heart. And that we see a more complete well rounded Connor McDavid next time he's in the playoffs. He has unlimited potential and could also manifest into a legendary playoff performer.

But as of right now, Nathan MacKinnon, imo, is indeed the best well rounded player in the NHL

 

[Raym11]

you stick two guys on Mcdavid all game and his linemates won't do anything.

You stick two guys on Mackinnon, and you get eviscerated by the rest of the Avs.


They don't have anyone close to Makar, or any wingers at the level of Mackinnons. If Mcdrai aren't stacked its climbing Mount Everest every shift