I think Crosby is still better all around, but if you are basing your opinion solely off 6-7 games of playoffs then I think you are getting a skewed opinion off a small sample size. Crosby has started off hot, while McDavid is in a bit of a slump (likely fighting an illness or bit of an injury). It has only been a single playoff round. Crosby is also very experienced while McDavid is just playing in the playoffs for the first time. So it is no surprise that Crosby looks much better at the moment. However, over 82 games this season McDavid definitely outperformed Sid and everyone else.
McDavid and Matthews have to wait to overtake Crosby
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It's not an accident though that McDavid hasn't been creating nearly as many chances as in the regular season. He is too much of a one-dimensional player (although that dimension is incredible) which makes him easier to shut down than guys like Crosby or prime Ovechkin, who could threaten you in multiple ways.
Empoleon8771
Registered User
Why can you do that between 2006 and 2017, yet you can't extrapolate PPG over 6 games? Because you say so?
McDavid certainly has work to do in order to round out his game, that's fair. But he is also facing checking that not even Crosby has had to put up with. The shadowing from Kesler was straight out of the 80's, yet it worked in the Oilers' favor as it just created so much space for everyone else. At the end of the day the Oilers scored 4 goals with McDavid on the ice.
We've also not seen his best yet in these playoffs. Tight checking doesn't account for why the most explosive player in the league suddenly looks slow. I watched him play 82 games this year and shadow or not, he is clearly not himself at the moment.
smackdaddy
x – Edmonton
Empoleon8771
Registered User
You're arbitrarily adjusting based on goals/game, while you don't actually know if that correction is appropriate. And even with adjusting based on goals/game, Crosby finished the year with 113 points to 100 for McDavid. How is doing that over a full season more okay than extrapolating based on PPG over 6 games?
Sidney the Kidney
One last time
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You mention context, then ignore the fact a big part of the reason for McDavid's 11 point gap in points is due to the fact Crosby missed 7 games this year.
It's not like McDavid beat Crosby by 11 points while both guys played all 82 games.
Why is Sid considered the better defensive player? Not trying to troll.
Legit curious.
McDavid dominated the league in corsi, shots generated, and high danger scoring chances generated.
McDavid had the puck a lot more than Crosby. And he kinda wrecked him in the individual head to head matchup against each other.
I mean, I understand Crosby has much stronger boardwork, and faceoffs, and is stronger on the puck.
McDavid had nearly double the takeaways and way less giveaways. Neither start in the Dzone really much more than the other. McDavid also drew the most penalties due to his speed.
But why is Crosby considered a superior defensive player? I'm not trying to be a smartass. I legit want to know reasons beyond 'saw them good'.
There isn't much statistical data to support this claim.
Legit curious.
McDavid dominated the league in corsi, shots generated, and high danger scoring chances generated.
McDavid had the puck a lot more than Crosby. And he kinda wrecked him in the individual head to head matchup against each other.
I mean, I understand Crosby has much stronger boardwork, and faceoffs, and is stronger on the puck.
McDavid had nearly double the takeaways and way less giveaways. Neither start in the Dzone really much more than the other. McDavid also drew the most penalties due to his speed.
But why is Crosby considered a superior defensive player? I'm not trying to be a smartass. I legit want to know reasons beyond 'saw them good'.
There isn't much statistical data to support this claim.
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The way I see it, McDavid is awesome but he has 3 stanley cup appearances, 2 cup wins, a conn smythe, 2 olympic golds (one as captain) and a whole lot more too accomplish before the talk should even begin. There is a reason that Gretzky is the Great One, he has the resume and one heck of a resume at that. And I don't want to hear the tired argument of different era blah blah blah. Wayne saw and played the game like a master chess player. Thus far, Sid has the resume, McDavid is just starting to build his. More than likely it will end up very impressive but he has a ways to go.
Lol @ Crosby having a 2 goal game and now McDavid will "never" be as good as Crosby running rampant in this thread. McDavid just blew Crosby apart in the scoring race, and his team is leading the ducks In Thier second round series but a just turned 20 year old is now Matthews equal.....lol some people on here just make me laugh.
Pretty much. He attacks off the rush or doesn't do much. In time his game will grow, though.
You can say that all you like, it doesn't make it true. They are very much on the same level as one another, with Crosby ahead of both.
This guy said it's a fact. Close it up bois, an EDM fan said a player on his team is the best and that's a fact. No bias here.
So the same, but with different labels? That's literally how that works. The ingredients are almost identical.
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McFlyingV
Registered User
I'll expect Matthews' 100 point season next year then. If it doesn't come, I want my money back on this hype sell job.
I'll add to this. Matthews is nowhere near McDavid. Let the haters hate. McDavid will walk away with the Ross and Hart. Next year he blows the league apart and whatever little argument left for Crosby will melt away like the snow in Edmonton in McDavids first playoff run with Edmonton.
Honour Over Glory
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McDavid didn't take over Crosby this year either, he was lucky to have a stud like Draisaitl as his line mate that pushed him to 100pts and in the playoffs is where guys make their mark and Draisaitl has been the really impressive player on the Oilers, Matthews definitely is a stud though, he's probably in that tier with Tavares, Benn, etc when he gets another year under his belt. McDavid being in that Seguin, Stamkos tier.
Sid isn't a guy you just beat in 1yr of points and those points being over hyped like crazy whilst underrating one of the best players that gets little to no credit unless it fits a narrative.
Sens of Anarchy
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As long as CBC and Sportsnet keep showing clips about Matthews when the leafs are out of the playoffs during Sens 2nd round game intermissions .. what more can a hockey fan ask for
I watched both 20+ games each this past season, and as far as I can see I don't think Crosby is the better defensive or overall player. They are close to even with probably a slight edge to McDavid. Crosby does a lot of little things McDavid doesn't do, but the things McDavid does he does so well that it doesn't really matter.
How so? He barely beat Sid in PPG and Sid won the Rocket. Sid is easily a better hockey player than McDavid at this point. You think Babcock, Queneville, Sully, Trotz, Torts, Julien, etc are going to take McDavid ahead of Sid in a game, playoff series or a tournament? Come on.
McDavid blew Crosby out at the end. A 19/20 year old. How does it feel...Crosby's last ditch effort.....failed. It's ok. Next Year......maybe Crosby won't spot him a 7 game lead. Anyone can see McDavid is the true heir to Gretzky. They both push the pace and set up plays. Once Connor gets his shot right. This thing is over fast.
Novak Djokovic
#24 and counting... #GOAT
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