I rank the best versions of Connor McDavid like this:
1) 2021-22 Playoffs
33 pts in 16 games, created a ridiculous number of chances every time he was on the ice. Small sample but I have never seen him look better. We will not see another player lead the playoffs in scoring while not even reaching the finals.
2) 2022-23 Regular Season
153 points in 82 games, led the league in all 3 primary stats. There has not been a season that dominant since Mario.
3) 2020-21 Canadian Division Year
His stats were technically more impressive this year than in 2022-23, but I rank it a bit lower to take into account the smaller sample size and the unique divisions playing the same teams over and over. His stats were pretty outrageous though, he had more assists than anyone else had points (besides his teammate Draisaitl)
4) 2023-24 Playoffs
Won the Conn Smythe on a losing team, broke a Gretzky assist record (something that will never happen again), became the only 40+ point scorer in the playoffs besides the 2 GOATs Gretzky/Lemieux. Despite all of this, he did not look as good to my eye test as other versions of himself, which is understandable since he was playing with a few injuries.
5) 2023-24 Regular Season
Hit the 100 assist mark, was 2nd in pts/game but for that to happen he needed to get injured twice & have Kucherov break the all-time empty net points record. But despite still being the best player in the league, he didn't look as good as other versions of himself. He played a more safe finesse-style game, rather than the aggressive attacking style that we saw in 2022. Didn't appear to have his lethal shot (injury?) He passed in spots where he had a Grade A shooting opportunity a laughable amount of times during that season.
