People who think Nathan Mackinnon is the best player in the world, can we all just be kind of agree that… he’s not?

[FlyguyOX]

the man certainly gets a ton of empty net points every year.

 

[authentic]

the man certainly gets a ton of empty net points every year.

Kucherov had 14 last season. I don’t believe MacKinnon had anywhere close to that.

 

[McFlash97]

Replace Mack with Draisaitl on this Canada roster and its a diff beast. The power down low, incredible sniping abilities from any angle. Drai is special but we dont jave him. However, Mack still has more to give for us. We need him to come through today. LFG !

 

[boltsfan86]

Kucherov had 14 last season. I don’t believe MacKinnon had anywhere close to that.

MacK had 8 empty net points last year. This year he's already at 12. Going to shatter Kucherov's record. Kuch only has 7 thus far

 

[Adam da bomb]

we can all agree that superstar athletes lose a little something once they put on that Canada jersey. McDavid with just two points, MacKinnon with one point, Makar with zero points, Scheifele with zero points...the only thing they have in common is they just don't play as well as they do when there's a paycheck attached to it.

Proud as a jets fan Schief even gets a mention.

 

[Curufinwe]

Anyone know what happened to MacKinnon's shootout game?

Between 13-14 and 19-20 he scored 11/27 (40.7%) Since the Covid break, he's been terrible in shootouts: 3/16 (18.8%)

NHL Stats

The official source for NHL Stats including skaters, goalies, teams stats and more.

www.nhl.com

Something similar happened to Giroux in shootouts. In his first six seasons he went 17/40 (42.5%). Since then he has only scored 14/69 (20.3%).

NHL Stats

The official source for NHL Stats including skaters, goalies, teams stats and more.

www.nhl.com

 

[PuckG]

McDavid has all the best abilities except for hockey IQ where I think Kucherov is the greatest right now.

But I do believe that sometimes McDavid should slow it down and use his pace exactly when needed instead of always try to go 110%

He certainly does this with players he has chemistry with. If him and Draisaitl or Hyman are lined up together, it’s a treat to watch.

Marner isn’t exactly someone that can do either.

 

[VinikToWinIt]

Kucherov had 14 last season. I don’t believe MacKinnon had anywhere close to that.

MacKinnon has 12 this season already… And he’s still getting outpaced in P/G by Kucherov.

 

[a mangy Meowth]

MacKinnon has 12 this season already… And he’s still getting outpaced in P/G by Kucherov.

 

[x Tame Impala]

MacK had 8 empty net points last year. This year he's already at 12. Going to shatter Kucherov's record. Kuch only has 7 thus far

Where do you find these stats? General question. I can never easily access them even by searching.

 

[boltsfan86]

Where do you find these stats? General question. I can never easily access them even by searching.

Natural Stat Trick is my favorite. Here are the empty net point leaders this year:
Player Season Totals - Natural Stat Trick

 

[x Tame Impala]

Natural Stat Trick is my favorite. Here are the empty net point leaders this year:
Player Season Totals - Natural Stat Trick

many thanks!

 

[boltsfan86]

BTW, I really detest the empty net points argument in general because they all count as a goal on the scoreboard and as a forward it's in your team's best interest for you to score a goal no matter who is on the ice or not on the ice. I just find it very hypocritical that when Kucherov did that last year more than anyone else he was an "empty net merchant" and "useless at 5 on 5" but nobody really seems to care that he's outscored MacKinnon at 5 on 5 in 5 fewer games played. Just be consistent

 

[JESSEWENEEDTOCOOK]

The best players are all great. What puts them into tiers, some higher than others, is leading their club to a Cup. McKinnon lead his club to a cup. He is in that higher tier with the other best players who have accomplished the same. Those who haven’t done that are a tier below.

sorry, mackinnon isnt better than mcdavid because his TEAM won a cup before McDavids TEAM did in a sport where one player does not have enough influence to will their entire TEAM to a cup alone, unless MAYBE you’re Dominik Hasek, and even he couldnt finish the job.

 

[Greatzsky 99]

Someone who has never won the Art Ross can never be the best, ill reconsider if he wins it twice

 

[authentic]

MacKinnon has 12 this season already… And he’s still getting outpaced in P/G by Kucherov.

So neither one really needs the empty net points to produce then

 

[Greatzsky 99]

sorry, mackinnon isnt better than mcdavid because his TEAM won a cup before McDavids TEAM did in a sport where one player does not have enough influence to will their entire TEAM to a cup alone, unless MAYBE you’re Dominik Hasek, and even he couldnt finish the job.

I totally agree, its been proven over and over, that that is the case.

 

[forsbergavs32]

He’s no John Scott

 

[PuckG]

Someone who has never won the Art Ross can never be the best, ill reconsider if he wins it twice

The only people who thought MacKinnon is the best are those ignoring the past 8-9 years in favour of 50 games this year.

 

[Bixby Snyder]

He's behind Matthews and Eichel.

 

[authentic]

BTW, I really detest the empty net points argument in general because they all count as a goal on the scoreboard and as a forward it's in your team's best interest for you to score a goal no matter who is on the ice or not on the ice. I just find it very hypocritical that when Kucherov did that last year more than anyone else he was an "empty net merchant" and "useless at 5 on 5" but nobody really seems to care that he's outscored MacKinnon at 5 on 5 in 5 fewer games played. Just be consistent

This season is making me rethink MacKinnon over Kucherov honestly. I still think MacKinnon is the slightly better overall player but it’s atleast close enough that I can understand people taking Kucherov now. If people want to say Kucherov is a bit better offensively I think that’s fair.

 

[x Tame Impala]

Who said MacKinnon is the best in the world? He had the best season last year but there's clearly some distance between him and McDavid. Draisaitl is having the best season this year as well which hurts the case for MacK even more.

Connor McDavid is so clearly the best player I don't know how anyone who calls themselves a hockey fan can think otherwise. Unless you just want to say he hasn't won a Cup yet and ignore the 90 points in his last 53 playoff games which is an ABSURD 40 goal 139 point pace.

 

[PuckG]

Who said MacKinnon is the best in the world? He had the best season last year but there's clearly some distance between him and McDavid. Draisaitl is having the best season this year as well which hurts the case for MacK even more.

Connor McDavid is so clearly the best player I don't know how anyone who calls themselves a hockey fan can think otherwise. Unless you just want to say he hasn't won a Cup yet and ignore the 90 points in his last 53 playoff games which is an ABSURD 40 goal 139 point pace.

Even in MacKinnon’s best season last year, Kucherov still outscored him and both Kucherov and McDavid had a better points/per game than he did.

 

[x Tame Impala]

BTW, I really detest the empty net points argument in general because they all count as a goal on the scoreboard and as a forward it's in your team's best interest for you to score a goal no matter who is on the ice or not on the ice. I just find it very hypocritical that when Kucherov did that last year more than anyone else he was an "empty net merchant" and "useless at 5 on 5" but nobody really seems to care that he's outscored MacKinnon at 5 on 5 in 5 fewer games played. Just be consistent

I hated it last year with Kucherov and I hate it this year with MacKinnon and Rantanen. I hate how EN points are counted in general and I think they should just be looked at as shootout goals to be honest.

3v3 OT and EN points/goals should be counted as their own separate category in my extreme opinion and not count for the Ross or career stats. Which I know is a little ridiculous but so is pulling your goalie down 4-1 with 5 minutes left.

Even in MacKinnon’s best season last year, Kucherov still outscored him and both Kucherov and McDavid had a better points/per game than he did.

He outscored him based on EN points. MacK was a better goal scorer and had better 5v5 production. Kucherov is behind McDavid, Draisaitl, and MacKinnon for me.

 

[NOTENOUGHRYJOTHINGS]

Replace Mack with Draisaitl on this Canada roster and its a diff beast. The power down low, incredible sniping abilities from any angle. Drai is special but we dont jave him. However, Mack still has more to give for us. We need him to come through today. LFG !

Draisatl can also create offense in tight spaces which will be important vs the Americans.

MacGinnon is a slight amount better in offensive free wheeling games where he can isolate defenders 1 on 1 and attack with speed (Draisatl is still great at that too). But MacGinnon traditionally creates nothing against defensive teams.