This is comparing Kucherov and Malkin, not Kucherov and McDavid.
We're losing the plot here. Dubious claims were made about Malkin being on Crosby's level, dubious claims about Kucherov being on a better player than Crosby's level doesn't really speak to Malkin and Kucherov at all.But the poster used Kucherov being on McDavid’s level in their argument. Therefore saying he’s not on McDavid’s level is relevant in a counter argument.
Malkin always plays hard, it's a myth that he gets unmotivated. But he played like a riverboat gambler whereas Kucherov is more cerebral and methodical. So if Malkin was off he was really off - and would take bad penalties in frustration as well. But I never questioned his work ethic.I voted equal, but honestly I prefer Kucherov. I think he has more of a killer instinct. Some people are forgetting just how bad and unmotivated Malkin can look at his worst, whereas Kucherov is a gamer 24/7.