MacKinnon had a better season last year. Where are you getting clearing him by a tier over the last two seasons?
2023 they were neck and neck both being ~20-25 points back of Mcdavid
2024 Mackinnon was pretty substantially ahead by 30ish points
So over those two years got Mackinnon being closer to Mcdavid then Draisaitl is to Mcdavid
Looking past that they have beem pretty close from 2018 - 2022
Draisaitl had 480 pts in 367 games or a ~1.30 ppg --> 107 pts per 82
Mackinnon has 442 pts in 338 games or ~1.30 ppg --> 107 pts per 82
If you look at even before that then it gets more skwed as 2017 mackinnon was on horrific Avs team where he led with 53 pts
And 2015 and 2016 dont make much sense to include either for both guys as neither was close to what they are now back then
Saying Mack is tier ahead is likely a hyperbole. I think they are in same tier but Mackinnon is higher up in that tier after his previous season.