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

[elite1prospects]

The answer to the questions is. What would Mcdavid do on Col and what would mackinnon do on the oil

 

[Skinnyjimmy08]

Except when it matters.

seriously disappointing to see people on HF weighing regular season performance the way they are.

unfortunately majority of awards handed out though are for only the regular season... so i get it.

 

[Skinnyjimmy08]

The answer to the questions is. What would Mcdavid do on Col and what would mackinnon do on the oil

i cant even imagine how many more points McDavid would get on that PP alone... it would be disgusting

 

[Aurinko]

The answer to the questions is. What would Mcdavid do on Col and what would mackinnon do on the oil

To me, the title refers to individual skills while this is a 100% team sport...

The way Mackinnon has grown is probably a big reason why the AV's look so deadly as a team. I seriously think it's not as much the individual skill as it is about to the attention to team game & spirit.

 

[Pi]

I love the way MacKinnon plays, I really like the Avs chances to be a dynasty team that wins at a clip similar to the Blackhawks but no, MacKinnon is not better than McDavid. Different teams, different circumstances. If you separate the player from the team and isolate just for the player, it's 97 > 29.

 

[Skinnyjimmy08]

I love the way MacKinnon plays, I really like the Avs chances to be a dynasty team that wins at a clip similar to the Blackhawks but no, MacKinnon is not better than McDavid. Different teams, different circumstances. If you separate the player from the team and isolate just for the player, it's 97 > 29.

100% agreed anyday of the week.... both are fantastic players but this debate is easily McDavid

and this is absolutely ZERO disrespect to Mac... McDavid is just a absolute freak of nature

 

[GreeningOil]

Play-ins against a sub 500 team are where nearly half those points are from in 4 games.

Oh so it’s you that decides what a playoff game is? I thought the NHL did that for us?

 

[Bear of Bad News]

Read what the op wrote. Best “all around” player. Mackinnon is a better all around player. mcdavid is a better offensive player.

He actually wrote "all round", which I'm really not sure what means but sounds like we need a Byfuglien or Kessel joke.

 

[Hale The Villain]

MacKinnon is just as dynamic, but his hockey IQ is tiers below.

Makes so many stupid plays, but can create many chances himself using his insane speed and skill.

He's nowhere near McDavid.

 

[Volica]

Oh so it’s you that decides what a playoff game is? I thought the NHL did that for us?

Lol.
K.

McDavid is a playoff God because he has 22 points in 21 games.
And almost half of his points were definitely not scored against a team that was literally the bottom seed in their entire division. Like zero chance that ever happened.

 

[GirardSpinorama]

MacKinnon is just as dynamic, but his hockey IQ is tiers below.

Makes so many stupid plays, but can create many chances himself using his insane speed and skill.

He's nowhere near McDavid.

Hockey IQ is both offensive and defense. Mcdavid's defensive hockey IQ is thus far non existent.

But McDavid on the PP is a tier above Mack who can get really stubborn/not take what the defense gives. Drai imo has better hockey brains in the offensive zone than both.

 

[Breakers]

Yes...

McDavid was pointless in the 1st two games
Then had absolutely critical turnovers in the next two games that led to the tying goal in game 3, and the series winning goal in game 3.

Makinnon is out here straight up embarrassing franchises in the playoffs.

 

[RANDOMH3RO]

Didn’t we have this exact same discussion last year? Then we start a new season and mcdavid blows the doors off and leaves no doubt. Then the oilers crap out and the avs go longer and the discussion starts again.
We definitely know the avalanche are a better team than the oilers. The results speak for themselves. We also know mcdavid is a better hockey player than mackinnon, those results are also telling. Somehow, the two conclusions get mixed up to support the other argument.

 

[GirardSpinorama]

Didn’t we have this exact same discussion last year? Then we start a new season and mcdavid blows the doors off and leaves no doubt. Then the oilers crap out and the avs go longer and the discussion starts again.
We definitely know the avalanche are a better team than the oilers. The results speak for themselves. We also know mcdavid is a better hockey player than mackinnon, those results are also telling. Somehow, the two conclusions get mixed up to support the other argument.

You're ignoring the fact that Mack is blowing the doors out in the post season and didn't exactly have a bad regular season.

It's not that Mack and McDavid are putting up the same performance in the playoffs but Avs just manage to win anyways. It's that their production has flipped (relatively) AND the Avs are still a better team.

 

[KrisLetAngry]

Oh so it’s you that decides what a playoff game is? I thought the NHL did that for us?

I think people are pointing out if you remove the series against a crap team (no offense Chicago fans you got 3 cups so all is good though right?)
McDavid has not performed to what is expected. He is even being handed last year Hart and Art Ross winger on his wing. WHO also even got a higher ppg when McDavid was out last year.

I'd expect some high level production from them both

 

[PeterForsberg]

Does McDavid hit 140+ pts on the Avs?
Maybe.

As an Avs fan, It hurts me to say I still rather have McDavid. He'll figure it out. The all time greats always do.

 

[Hockeyholic]

Yes it's safe to say that.

 

[hockeydog23]

McDavid's sample size this year was 4 games, and that's not his fault.

It’s definitely his fault. Whose fault is it if your best player on a favored team doesn’t produce and you get swept? Where’s the accountability?

 

[RANDOMH3RO]

You're ignoring the fact that Mack is blowing the doors out in the post season and didn't exactly have a bad regular season.

It's not that Mack and McDavid are putting up the same performance in the playoffs but Avs just manage to win anyways. It's that their production has flipped (relatively) AND the Avs are still a better team.

I will concede that thus far in their careers, Mack is a better playoff guy than mcdavid. But he’s not even separated from the pack in the playoff scoring. He’s tied with kucherov right now who looks like he’s playing at half speed right now.
Mcdavid blew away the scoring race this year. 21 points ahead of second place drai, 36 ahead of 3rd place Marchand. 40 points ahead of 8th place mackinnon. Mcdavid has scored more than mackinnon every single full season they’ve had head to head.
Mackinnon has been great in his two rounds the avs have won since he has been their leader. But let’s pump the brakes on using that as proof that he’s better than mcdavid. If they both retired today, mcdavid is a first ballot hall of famer. Mackinnon wouldn’t make it yet. That should show the difference in them so far.

 

[Ninety7]

It’s definitely his fault. Whose fault is it if your best player on a favored team doesn’t produce and you get swept? Where’s the accountability?

Uh.... with the guy who built the team?

It’s truly amazing how many people have to be informed of this concept, but hockey is a team sport.

 

[hockeydog23]

I have no idea why you came to that conclusion when McDavid just had a season for the ages.

Because a true season for the ages ends with at least leading your team to one playoff game win.

 

[hockeydog23]

Uh.... with the guy who built the team?

It’s truly amazing how many people have to be informed of this concept, but hockey is a team sport.

Same team that made the playoffs and earned the second seed in the division. Team was good enough to do that and then it’s star player wilted when the pressure ramped up. Can’t blame the GM for mcdavid not marching his regular season standards in the playoffs.

 

[Cousin Eddie]

It’s safe to say he’s significantly better when it comes to postseason play. However Mcdavid is significantly better in the regular season. We don’t know if Mcdavid can elevate his playoff play to Mackinnon’s level. If he can it’s him easily but he hasn’t to this point of his career.

 

[hockeydog23]

I will concede that thus far in their careers, Mack is a better playoff guy than mcdavid. But he’s not even separated from the pack in the playoff scoring. He’s tied with kucherov right now who looks like he’s playing at half speed right now.
Mcdavid blew away the scoring race this year. 21 points ahead of second place drai, 36 ahead of 3rd place Marchand. 40 points ahead of 8th place mackinnon. Mcdavid has scored more than mackinnon every single full season they’ve had head to head.
Mackinnon has been great in his two rounds the avs have won since he has been their leader. But let’s pump the brakes on using that as proof that he’s better than mcdavid. If they both retired today, mcdavid is a first ballot hall of famer. Mackinnon wouldn’t make it yet. That should show the difference in them so far.

 

[sandysan]

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.

I think it is safe to say that Mackinnon is on a much deeper team set up for the playoffs than mcDavid is.

both are fantastic talents, and the difference may be closing but right now, I probably still give the nod to McDavid. but neither choice is a bad one,