Is McDavid a poor captain?

[The Abusement Park]

Dionne also played for a Kings team that had no business in the playoffs, yet had tough series against heavily favored Boston teams as well as eliminated Gretzky and the Oilers in '82. Dionne had 23 points in those 18 games. Count in less successful attempts against the Islander and Oiler dynasties and it's still 29 points in 25 games with LA against the heaviest favourites.

Most of his playoff games he was older than McDavid is now. Would have been ppg if not for his final campaign in New York age 35.

So the team excuse works for Dionne but not for McDavid? I mean the Oilers are obviously a playoff team but the Panthers are far far better team than the Oilers were.

 

[pi314]

To the complete knuckleheads in this thread arguing that Sid isn’t a complete player…


Sidney Crosby has been voted the NHL’s Most Complete Player by his peers for the sixth consecutive season in the 2024–25 NHLPA Players’ Poll. At 37 years old, he earned 33.81% of the vote, narrowly edging out Florida’s Aleksander Barkov who received 30.95%.

Quick breakdown:

• This marks six straight seasons Crosby has topped the “Most Complete Player” category.
• In the same poll, he was also voted the league’s smartest player, tops in faceoffs, and ranked among the top forwards and playmakers.

Six times in a row by actual NHL players.

 

[Muffin]

Probably not. Are we supposed to believe this awkward guy is supposed to be some charismatic leader behind the doors?

 

[nbwingsfan]

Probably not. Are we supposed to believe this awkward guy is supposed to be some charismatic leader behind the doors?

You don’t have to have charisma to be a leader

Best boss never has was awkward as hell and hated meetings, but constantly showed up for us, supported us, and showed us how it’s done

 

[shello]

Yes. The worst one in the league.

Worse than Radko Gudas even

 

[The Abusement Park]

To the complete knuckleheads in this thread arguing that Sid isn’t a complete player…


Sidney Crosby has been voted the NHL’s Most Complete Player by his peers for the sixth consecutive season in the 2024–25 NHLPA Players’ Poll. At 37 years old, he earned 33.81% of the vote, narrowly edging out Florida’s Aleksander Barkov who received 30.95%.

Quick breakdown:

• This marks six straight seasons Crosby has topped the “Most Complete Player” category.
• In the same poll, he was also voted the league’s smartest player, tops in faceoffs, and ranked among the top forwards and playmakers.

Six times in a row by actual NHL players.

He definitely became a very complete player. But he was incredibly one dimensional to start his career.

 

[surixon]

People put too much emphasis on the charismatic leadership style. It is one of many ways to effectively lead. Ideally your room has a leadership group with different leadership styles.

With regards to McDavid, who really knows without being in the room.

 

[Albatros]

People put too much emphasis on the charismatic leadership style. It is one of many ways to effectively lead. Ideally your room has a leadership group with different leadership styles.

Good, but if you have that charismatic character in the room then that alone can become a problem to your captain if he doesn't share those qualities.

 

[qcal1427]

We've come such a long way that people are doing this shit with a Canadian, a real sign of progress!

 

[surixon]

Good, but if you have that charismatic character in the room then that alone can become a problem to your captain if he doesn't share those qualities.

Based on what exactly? It seems teams like Florida, Chicago, Pittsburgh all won multiple cups with their captains not following this archetype. There were plenty of charismatic leaders in those rooms like MAF, Tkachuk, Marchand etc as well.

 

[Albatros]

Crosby and Barkov would be two examples that grew into their roles despite not being ready initially, and success followed. But that's not always the case.

 

[bambamcam4ever]

He definitely became a very complete player. But he was incredibly one dimensional to start his career.

Stop gaslighting people.

There are articles of Crosby at 19 noting how advanced he was defensively for his age: Burnside: Ovechkin vs. Crosby

The idea that Crosby was that one-dimensional as a younger player is revisionist history from McDavid fans who couldn't imagine a top offensive player being capable defensively, because their boy showed zero interest in doing so.

 

[The Abusement Park]

Stop gaslighting people.

There are articles of Crosby at 19 noting how advanced he was defensively for his age: Burnside: Ovechkin vs. Crosby

The idea that Crosby was that one-dimensional as a younger player is revisionist history from McDavid fans who couldn't imagine a top offensive player being capable defensively, because their boy showed zero interest in doing so.

I'm not saying advanced stats and player cards are the end all be all. But he was absolutely not the 200ft force he has been over the last ~decade. ~2012 he really started to take some strides all round and become the force he is today. Its not like it some slight on Crosby and his legacy, his path is very similar to other elite C's who rounded out there game as they aged.

And even then some of the greatest players in the history of the sport are the most one dimensional players ever.

 

[banks]

I don't think he's a bad captain. I'd happily have him as the C for any team I cheer for.

But that 'dig in right **** now' speech from last year was not a good look. I don't think that's the attitude that wins championships.

 

[93gilmour93]

No youre right McJesus deserves no blame. His teammates failed him. Everyone else deserves blame not McJesus!!!

He doesn't need to take that. He should go to Toronto

 

[Sasha Orlov]

I don't think he's a bad captain. I'd happily have him as the C for any team I cheer for.

But that 'dig in right **** now' speech from last year was not a good look. I don't think that's the attitude that wins championships.

It led to 3 consecutive wins and the Oilers being 2 goals from a cup

 

[SomeDude]

He’s actually quite wealthy from what I gather.

 

[PainForShane]

It led to 3 consecutive wins and the Oilers being 2 goals from a cup

No, the speech came at the end of game 2 (2024). Not an intermission, not before the start of the game. The speech came at a time when "right f***ing now" everyone was just taking off their pads to get ready for a flight. The game 3 loss happened the next game.

Anyway pretty sure the speech had nothing to do with games 4-6 (which were incredibly impressive from the Oilers last year), speeches don't work via time delay across multiple days

 

[Greatzsky 99]

maybe i have repiled already, but i think he is the wrong personality
to be captain, strip him off resonsabilty and i think he would be better
just doing his thing, it clearly weighs on him, he keep repeting wiinning
winning, there are better guys for that role, i dont understand the nhls
obsession with giving high drafts and big prospects the C, it doesnt make
sense, is it because they are trying to keep them?

But the way he lost temper, is not what i want in a leader, you can be mad
furious, but a leader shall channel that in a different way imo, the times
that has happened imo ive lost respect or i have been willing to get out from
there, it has either way never wanted me to wholeheartedly give more,

there was aquote about barkov, that would be fitting here, but i cant recall it

but it went something like, the guys gravitating towards him and they want to do
it for him, i think it is a difference, and gm3 showed mcdavid doesnt have control over
the room.

 

[Sasha Orlov]

No, the speech came at the end of game 2 (2024). Not an intermission, not before the start of the game. The speech came at a time when "right f***ing now" everyone was just taking off their pads to get ready for a flight. The game 3 loss happened the next game.

Anyway pretty sure the speech had nothing to do with games 4-6 (which were incredibly impressive from the Oilers last year), speeches don't work via time delay across multiple days

We should just ask you the reasons why everything in hockey happens then, no need to even discuss it

 

[PainForShane]

We should just ask you the reasons why everything in hockey happens then, no need to even discuss it

That wasn't my point. My point was that if someone says some version of "dig the f*** in, right f***ing NOW!!!!" at the end of game 2... and then the team loses game 3 a couple days later... well then the team's winning games 4-6 probably had nothing to do with the speech at the end of game two.

Because the team lost the game immediately after. And because game 4 was literally 5 days after that speech.

Feel free to continue to discuss if you want, you do you