Feel free to bring that up in the "Mackinnon, Kucherov, Panarin, Kane, Rantanen, Pastrnak, Kreider, etc are among the best playoff performers in NHL history" thread.
The reality is that the Oilers have been trying to separate McDrai at ES to the obvious benefit of creating offensive depth for many seasons with a whole plethora of different wingers. Having two franchise C's/two very good top lines has been a key to many Cup winners. It hasn't worked yet. This can be pointed to, among other things, as a reason the Oilers haven't had the level of playoff success one might expect despite having a generational talent and a superstar level talent at arguably the most key position.
McDavid usually doesn't lose as much effectiveness at ES when he is not playing with Draisaitl so it begs the question as to how Draisaitl can be placed among the all-time greats if he cannot carry his own line consistently enough where the coach doesn't give up on rolling lines with them separated so quick.
I do think he steps it up in the playoffs but not anymore than his peers like MacKinnon and Kucherov. And I cannot see him hitting the same numbers without McDavid.
So he deserves some attention for what he does but not to the level of the thread title.
His most common "not with McDavid" linemates in the 2022 playoffs were Hyman and Yamamoto. Last year it was Hyman, Yamamoto and RNH. This year it's Kane, RNH, and Foegele.
