Is MacKinnon now the best player in the NHL?

[chaosrevolver]

Patrice Bergeron is still playing.

Nope

 

[cgf]

He only needs 3 goals and 3 assists to match Stone tonight.

Nice to know he can take the lead with a quiet game

 

[b in vancouver]

Nope

He is. I saw him playing tonight.

Bergeron missed 15 games but actually had the same ppg as MacKinnon (minsulely higher than him) while playing Selke level defence
I hope we can see them face-off at centre ice in The Finals and find out.

 

[Dirty Dan]

Mackinnon is a bit rougher around the edges than Mcdavid which in the playoffs might make him closer in comparison...

 

[TheAngryHank]

Why are we limiting it to just the NHL? Or even this planet or galaxy for that matter?

Bryz would like a word with you.

 

[Nsjohnson]

No, obviously it's Stone.

Wait, wait, no it IS Mackinnon.

WAIT. Incoming transmission. No, no, sorry, it's McDavid.

**** I forgot, it's Kucherov!

 

[PuckSeparator]

I know a lot of people are making fun at the thought, but MacKinnon is playing like the best player in the league right now. Last year he had a stretch where he was unstoppable as well and we had a number of these threads. The thing with MacKinnon is that he seems to be a stronger, more explosive player (not speed, but just physicality) than McDavid, so when he's on it looks like he's playing against boys out there in every sense of the word. He's a freaking tank, surreal combination of strength - speed - power - shooting prowess.

With that said, he needs a little more consistency at his peak level to overtake McDavid as the best player in the game.

 

[maxbme]

In the same way Crosby was always the best player when this was asked about giroux and who ever else, mcdavid is the best player in the NHL, regardless of who is on a hot streak or having an insane season, and will be for quite some time.

Not taking away anything from kuch or McKinnon, but mcdavid is the best. Bar none.

 

[BlueDream]

No. Not really even close.

 

[admiralcadillac]

McDavid is just a special talent

MacKinnon is close but he's not better than McDavid

 

[Dominance]

No. McDavid is still at the top. But I now fully believe that MacKinnon is closer to #1 than whoever #3 may be (Crosby, Kucherov) is to him.

I watched the latest Calgary-Colorado game with a buddy who’s a huge Flames fan, and I think he summed it up nicely: “MacKinnon is their whole f***ing team.”

 

[clydesdale line]

I'll say he is absolutely money in the playoffs. Not afraid to put him up there with the better playoff performers we've seen.

 

[Gobben]

IMHO after seeing Mackinnon play recently I believe he has developed into the best player in the NHL. He is an absolute beast of a player who looks unstoppable if on top of his game. His speed and stick handling is comparable to McDavid's and he has a much better shot and is also stronger. He also seems to be more mature and a better leader at this point in time.

I guess to me the only question is consistency. If he can play like he did in game 3 consistently then for me I would take him first if I was starting a new team.

Thoughts?

Angus McKinnon Young has been the best for over 40 years.



It is not a surprise. He is unstoppable and on top of any and every game.

 

[illpucks]

Mark Stone is the best. He is a contender for Selke, Hart, and now 1st in playoff scoring.

 

[razor ray]

If I had to pick NM, and the Colorado 4th, or McDavid.....I would still probably take McDavid.

NM has looked absolutely awesome.....best player in that series no doubt.

 

[Mighty Makar]

McDavid’s the best. I think Nate’s top 5, though.

 

[PensandCaps]

Yep.

 

[TomasHertlsRooster]

He is in the top tier of players. Who is actually the best is a complex question,

It’s a complex question with a really simple answer in McDavid.

MacKinnon is doing what he can to complicate the answer.

 

[Ivan13]

What people don't understand is that playoff Mack =/= regular season Mack. The kid is currently the career playoff league leader in p/g among all active players. When chips are down he just goes insane.

 

[Tobias Kahun]

What people don't understand is that playoff Mack =/= regular season Mack. The kid is currently the career playoff league leader in p/g among all active players. When chips are down he just goes insane.

Barzal, slavin and foegele are higher

 

[Avsboy]

All I can say is this. When I watched McDavid play the Avs for the first time, I basically saw blurry flashes of relentless speedy fore checking and scoring chances. I had a hard time focusing my eyes properly; he was everywhere. There is no player better than McDavid.

 

[Ivan13]

Solid sample size.

Great player though.

I didn't say he is better than McDavid, just that he goes to another level in the playoffs. It's actually amazing he has only 5 points in the series given he does whatever he wants out there.

 

[Tobias Kahun]

I didn't say he is better than McDavid, just that he goes to another level in the playoffs. It's actually amazing he has only 5 points in the series given he does whatever he wants out there.

Okay then, I don't disagree with you, living in calgary it was alot of fun being at the bar being the only guy cheering and celebrating the Avs win.

I went wild when they tied and won it.

 

[WarriorOfGandhi]

I really don't know

but I can tell you that MacKinnon is 100% worth the price of admission on any given night

 

[Langdon Alger]

No, but he’s damn good. Very fun to watch.