McDavid becomes the 3rd player in NHL history to score 40 points in a playoff run - after Wayne and Mario

Satire

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Nov 20, 2016
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We all but crowned Draisaitl as the clutchest playoff player of all time. He was three points up on McDavid on May 20th (after 12 games). Ever since, in 11 games and one period to go, McDavid has 19 points to Draisaitl's 6. What happened? Is Drai injured? We remember well how playing with one leg didn't slow him down one bit a couple years ago, didn't he even break some record in terms of points in a playoff series back then?

In light of this separation this stretch feels somewhat like a McDavid's breakout party even though he was already accomplished as hell.
Drai is injured. The year he was on 1 leg he was paired with McDavid to offset his weaknesses with his injury. It allowed him to basically be a stand-still turret. This playoffs he's still being given pretty important defensive assignments and generally is staying away from McDavid. Not to mention, the quality of his wingers hasn't been great vs McDavid. I think this is the right choice, but we aren't seeing the best of Drai right now by any means.
 
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ruaware41

Typical
Oct 22, 2019
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Plenty of outs for the Panthers to sneak in one more game. PP finally shows up, Bobrovsky steals another one, maybe Skinner has a bad one, etc.

Oilers are basically all cylinders right now except for Draisaitl and I think he's too banged up to buck that trend unfortunately.
this is precisely why I think Florida wins the cup. The Oilers firing on all cylinders they can fire on as you said. PK, PP, Skinner, McDavid.

The cylinders they are not firing on do not look salvageable - Nurse Kane and Draisaitl.

If florida even gets one of: bobrovsky powerplay or penalty kill going, and all seem feasible right now, that alone paints a reasonable path of victory. And if Oilers stop firing on even one of those cylinders then it’s not far fetched that they could lose. The probabilities just don’t seem in the oilers favour unless McDavid proves he truly is that guy the rest of the way which even for his own standards would be insane. I hope Edmonton wins even though I find their fans a very insecure bunch who seem to constantly just bitch and complain about other teams on their board even while their team is in the finals.
 

flying squirrel

Registered User
Feb 11, 2019
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Impressive run, McDavid has now stepped up on biggest stage in playoffs during these finals. He'll deserve all the love he gets now, all that's left is that ultimate prize. It's within reach now.....
  • If Oilers win = It's McD's to lose.
  • But if Oilers lose = Player on winning team should win.
  • Kudos McDavid, our house is puling for Oilers to pull-off 0-3 shocker.
 

5 14 6 1

We are the 11.5%
Sep 15, 2010
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We all but crowned Draisaitl as the clutchest playoff player of all time. He was three points up on McDavid on May 20th (after 12 games). Ever since, in 11 games and one period to go, McDavid has 19 points to Draisaitl's 6. What happened? Is Drai injured? We remember well how playing with one leg didn't slow him down one bit a couple years ago, didn't he even break some record in terms of points in a playoff series back then?

In light of this separation this stretch feels somewhat like a McDavid's breakout party even though he was already accomplished as hell.
To answer your question, Draisaitl broke his finger in G7 vs Vancouver, and also suffered an upper body injury in the series.
 
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Beukeboom

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Apr 1, 2007
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doing this in 2024 is f***ing insane. greatest player ever.
His run his for sure one of the best ever, maybe the best if they win? But hyperbole like this makes it hard to fully stand behind him.
I'd bring the following to the table.

1. Gretzky's record in the playoffs equals 61 (!) points in 23 games.

2. The playoffs are sooo soft compared to back in the days. It has to be easier to be a skilled player now vs then. Just compare to 15 years ago and the playoffs now is like a regular season game.

3. Isn't it time for people to update their takes on scoring now vs then in general? There are roughly the same amount of guys scoring 140 + points this season as any given prime Gretzky year. The difference being Wayne at + 200 points, rather than 135.

So in conclusion: McDavid is cementing himself as one of the best ever for sure. And this run is one of the best. But just like Wayne's run in 92-93 is forgotten and overshadowed by Mario's regular season performance, this might to be so if Connor doesn't win. And the best player ever? No.
 
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syz

[1, 5, 6, 14]
Jul 13, 2007
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this is precisely why I think Florida wins the cup. The Oilers firing on all cylinders they can fire on as you said. PK, PP, Skinner, McDavid.

The cylinders they are not firing on do not look salvageable - Nurse Kane and Draisaitl.

If florida even gets one of: bobrovsky powerplay or penalty kill going, and all seem feasible right now, that alone paints a reasonable path of victory. And if Oilers stop firing on even one of those cylinders then it’s not far fetched that they could lose. The probabilities just don’t seem in the oilers favour unless McDavid proves he truly is that guy the rest of the way which even for his own standards would be insane. I hope Edmonton wins even though I find their fans a very insecure bunch who seem to constantly just bitch and complain about other teams on their board even while their team is in the finals.
I will say though, I don't think the Oilers PP is anywhere near firing on all cylinders yet. It's better than it was early in the series but they were running 50% for a while these playoffs. If it continues to improve that's at least one mark in Edmonton's favor, and could even out any dips in places like Skinner or the PK if they occur.

The Panthers' biggest advantage right now imo is the 2nd line, unless Draisaitl can dig deep or heal up over the next few days.
 
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Alexandre Achutti

Registered User
Oct 6, 2019
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His run his for sure one of the best ever, maybe the best if they win? But hyperbole like this makes it hard to fully stand behind him.
I'd bring the following to the table.

1. Gretzky's record in the playoffs equals 61 (!) points in 23 games.

2. The playoffs are sooo soft compared to back in the days. It has to be easier to be a skilled player now vs then. Just compare to 15 years ago and the playoffs now is like a regular season game.

3. Isn't it time for people to update their takes on scoring now vs then in general? There are roughly the same amount of guys scoring 140 + points this season as any given prime Gretzky year. The difference being Wayne at + 200 points, rather than 135.

So in conclusion: McDavid is cementing himself as one of the best ever for sure. And this run is one of the best. But just like Wayne's run in 92-93 is forgotten and overshadowed by Mario's regular season performance, this might to be so if Connor doesn't win. And the best player ever? No.

average goals per game :

1985 playoffs - 7.49
2024 playoffs - 5,76
 

PeterCheater

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Feb 22, 2014
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1. Gretzky's record in the playoffs equals 61 (!) points in 23 games.

[...]

3. Isn't it time for people to update their takes on scoring now vs then in general? There are roughly the same amount of guys scoring 140 + points this season as any given prime Gretzky year. The difference being Wayne at + 200 points, rather than 135.
1. Scoring in '85 was much higher than nowadays - 2nd best scorer in the playoffs (Coffey) had 37 pts in 18 games, Recchi had 34 pts in 24 games in 1991 (Lemieux).

McDavid is outscoring 2nd-best scorer on his team/in the playoffs by bigger statistical margin than Gretzky and Lemieux in their best seasons scoring-wise in the playoffs.

Gretzky in '85 was outscoring best non-Oiler scorer by 62%.
Lemieux in '91 was outscoring best non-Penguin scorer by 52%.
McDavid in '24 is outscoring best non-Oiler scorer by 91%.

It doesn't mean this is better/worse/whatever playoff run, but just for statistical perspective what we are witnessing.

3. Scoring in '85 was 25% higher (30% in the playoffs) with 25% higher number of power play opportunities.

Scoring in '91 was 11% higher (15% in the playoffs) with 43% higher number of power play opportunities.
 

Beukeboom

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Apr 1, 2007
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average goals per game :

1985 playoffs - 7.49
2024 playoffs - 5,76
Looks pretty identical to now for the top end scoring? Other than Wayne having a way higher ppg than McDavid.
 
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613Leafer

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May 26, 2008
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Is this guy gonna win the Conn Smythe even if the Oilers lose?

He should. He's having a legit generational playoff performance, as in the best one we've arguably seen in the 2000s.

Voters going to pass that up for Bobrovsky's 0.906 save %?
 
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ijuka

Registered User
May 14, 2016
23,166
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Is this guy gonna win the Conn Smythe even if the Oilers lose?
Probably. Panthers don't have anyone. If it was somehow close then I could see it but it's hard to imagine. Tkachuk, Barkov? It's just not convincing. Meanwhile, McDavid's crushing a Gretzky all-time record, already three assists up. And considering the eras, one could consider this even superior to Lemieux's strongest playoff run.
 
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ijuka

Registered User
May 14, 2016
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Thought Barkov and Forsling were supposed to slow him down?
They're too busy being negative GF% on power play, getting clowned by Connor Brown. Oof.

When's the last time a team in stanley cup finals allowed more goals than they scored, while on power play?
 

Alexandre Achutti

Registered User
Oct 6, 2019
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Better pure talent than MJ and Gretzky when adjusting for difficulty of modern day sports

Ali and Woods are solo/individual sports so they win/lose on their own and I didnt count them

MJ and Gretzky are still more dominant than Mcdavid, their talent and ability might be similar to his, but we never got to see them play modern/current day defensive schemes vs seeing Mcdavid against that now.


99/23 no doubt, 99% dominate modern day defenses, but Im giving credit to 97 for doing in his time when no one else has been able to do so

The NBA recently chose the 75 greatest players in its history.

The era that had the most players among these 75 was Jordan's era.

Another detail about defenses and scoring difficulties.

Don't try to compare NHL eras with NBA eras, they are different sports with different developments and the eras of one do not correspond to the other in terms of game mentality.

Seasons with 30 or more ppg by players:

Jordan era 1984-1998

12 times

Jordan - 8
Dominique Wilkins - 2
Karl Malone - 1
Bernanrd King - 1

Since 2005 (or Lebron era):

28 times

(Harden 3, Embiid 3, Luka 2, Giannis 2, Beal 2, Gilgeous-Alexander 2, Kobe 2, Curry 2, Durant 2, LeBron 2, Iverson 2, Wade, Lillard, Tatum, Westbrook)
 
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