McDavid surpasses Joe Thornton is career playoff points, is now 4th in playoff points amongst players with no cup

[wetcoast]

He is also 44th all time in playoff points and Draisaitl is knocking on the top 50.

We are watching 2 all time greats here no matter if they win a SC or not.

 

[crowfish]

If McDavid wins a Cup, he will be the 2nd greatest player of all-time. If he doesn't win a Cup, he will also be the 2nd greatest of all time.

 

[WetcoastOrca]

He is also 44th all time in playoff points and Draisaitl is knocking on the top 50.

We are watching 2 all time greats here no matter if they win a SC or not.

For sure. Unfortunately the list will be weighted to players who play in an era where there are more playoff rounds than the old 6 team era. Not to in any way take away from these amazing playoff performers but it does make it tougher for Howe, Hull etc.

 

[mr figgles]

How would you like to be Brian Propp? 5 finals and no cup to show for it.

 

[Lazlo Hollyfeld]

Your phrasing "the late great Adam Oates" made me think that he had died and I missed the news for some reason, so I had to look him up.

He's still alive! Yay.

Seriously! You don't say "late great" unless someone is actually dead. I thought I missed the news too.

 

[WetcoastOrca]

How would you like to be Brian Propp? 5 finals and no cup to show for it.

I give him propps for getting close 5 times.

 

[wetcoast]

For sure. Unfortunately the list will be weighted to players who play in an era where there are more playoff rounds than the old 6 team era. Not to in any way take away from these amazing playoff performers but it does make it tougher for Howe, Hull etc.

There is actually a good thread in the HOH section accounting for playoff scoring over time that addresses this and McDavid (sure he is still in his prime and will have a decline later in his career) that he is already an all time great in terms of playoff scoring with context.


This is a great even handed resource and everyone should read it.

Thread 'Adjusting playoff scoring for defense faced'

Mar 20, 2025

As talked about in a thread, it would be maybe interesting to adjust playoff scoring over player career around a weighted defensive score of the opponent they face, 6 games against a 3 goals against, 4 games against a 4 goals a game, faced a average 3.4 goals a games defensive team that year.

player nan	seasson	gameplayed	average defense	points	adjustedpts	ppg adj
Gretzky	19801981	9	3.13	21	24.7	2.74

...

• MadLuke
• Replies: 53
• Forum: The History of Hockey

• 

 

[Hank Plank]

How many points does he need to catch Matthews?

-77

 

[Erik Alfredsson]

He's got this year and next to do it, IMHO. After that, he'll sign another mega-contract and the depth needed to win will evaporate.

Nah, he'll always have a crack at it as long as him and Draisaitl are still playing. They're always going the find guys who will be willing to take short term discount deals for the chance to win a cup with McDavid.

 

[PistolPete]

Brian Propp was a great 2 way player for Flyers in 80's. McDavid has years yet to accomplish it and might just do it yet this year.

Dude had crazy shot totals and low shooting percentage. He must-ve spent a lot of time in the offensive zone; he was a Corsi Beast no doubt!

 

[PistolPete]

With those two assists, he also passed Guy Lafleur, one of the poster boys for joining a stacked organization and being given all the credit in the world.

He was the premier player on that stacked team.

And have you watched the Leafs lately? Being stacked isn't a guarantee of winning Cups.

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

I give him propps for getting close 5 times.

Mad propps to you for this pun.

 

[PistolPete]

Definitely... to use terms I commonly seen thrown around, McDavid has "peaked" by now. That's not to say he doesn't have several years of being in his "prime" left, however. He's as good as he'll ever get by this point. However, if he has 5 "prime" years left (I made up an arbitrary number for the sake of his example) before declining, that's not to say that one of those remaining seasons cannot be a statistical outlier for whatever reason.

Gretzky started his descent around age 33ish so your 5 years may be spot on

 

[PistolPete]

Brian Propp put up more 20-point post-seasons than "legend" Joe Pavelski.

Higher scoring era as well

 

[PistolPete]

If McDavid wins a Cup, he will be the 2nd greatest player of all-time. If he doesn't win a Cup, he will also be the 2nd greatest of all time.

Gretzky, Lemieix, Orr, Esposito, Hull...

 

[crowfish]

Gretzky, Lemieix, Orr, Esposito, Hull...

(today)

Gretzky, Lemieux, Orr, Howe, McDavid

(future)

Gretzky, McDavid, Lemieux, Orr, Howe

 

[PistolPete]

(today)

Gretzky, Lemieux, Orr, Howe, McDavid

(future)

Gretzky, McDavid, Lemieux, Orr, Howe

Nah. McDavid is a generational talent for sure but just not sold on him being an all-time great.

Doesn't have that dominance that Frerzky, Lemieux or Orr did

 

[Dieseloil]

Elliotte Fraudman recently said that Mitch Marner will go down as the greatest Toronto-born Leafs player ever which I'm disgusted by because everyone knows that McDavid will fulfill his lifelong dream of playing for the Leafs in summer 2026. Their Cup dynasty WILL begin immediately afterwards!

You guys need new material, that joke is old.

 

[WetcoastOrca]

(today)

Gretzky, Lemieux, Orr, Howe, McDavid

(future)

Gretzky, McDavid, Lemieux, Orr, Howe

I don’t think McDavid will ever pass Orr in my books. I’d have Orr before Mario as well. The guy completely revolutionized the defense position. Absent injuries I’d have him neck and neck with the Great One.

 

[NorthStar4Canes]

Oates died?

 

[WetcoastOrca]

Oates died?

No. I think he and Darryl Hall just broke up.

 

[PistolPete]

No. I think he and Darryl Hall just broke up.

Soooooo close, yet so far away!!

 

[BB79]

Things are not looking good for McDavid right now as the hockey gods seems to favour the Stars in the 3rd round.

They've played 1 game. 1.

 

[BB79]

No. I think he and Darryl Hall just broke up.

I can't go for that

 

[PistolPete]

They've played 1 game. 1.

Thank you!

Sheesh.

The other night everyone was talking as of it was a one game series and Florida had the Cup in the bag and now Dallas is supposedly moving on.

Wow. This is the kind of thinking that costs actual players wins in the PO, treating one game as the be all end all