What is wrong with Mcdavid?

[Some Other Flame]

It's that Edmonton water; there's something in it

 

[Video Nasty]

A complete lack of heart, guts, and leadership?

At this rate McDavid will go down as the Dan Marino of hockey: a dominant offensive player who never got it done when it mattered.

Every time I see someone bring up Marino in the usual condescending talking head bullet point, it clues me in that they don’t have a clue what they’re talking about.

Marino was often saddled with middling to poor defenses after his opening two seasons, and a run game that was, if I’m being kind, inadequate, and if being truthful, usually non-existent. These key points are usually not mentioned by the lazy who throw out a list of greatest non-championship winners in all sports. They don’t tell you that Marino threw perceived costly interceptions because of how often the Dolphins played from behind and needed to go pass heavy out of necessity.

The defense often crumbled away leads when those were given by the offense. It was often that way for the Dolphins. When the run game was actually effective, the defense would cave, and vice versa. Of course, Marino wasn’t flawless by any means, of course he made boneheaded throws at times, of course he lost them some games; all of this is not meant to be excuse making or shifting all the blame off his shoulders, but it’s tiresome hearing people just throw his name out there and eschew context, particularly because they don’t hear about it on the sports shows.

Yes, the mass opinion and prevailing take on Marino is that he couldn’t win a Super Bowl and thus that makes his career a failure, but does that make it accurate?

When Crosby had 8 points in 6 games against the flyers in 2011 nobody was patting him on the back, we were critical. The system had strayed away from its winning ways and Crosby shared in the blame.

Revisionist history to appear less biased at its finest. Very few, even amongst those normally were, were critical of Crosby at that point in time, because he had only been back from another concussion for a month up to that point. The bigger concern on everyone’s minds was just how much of a career Crosby was going to have going forward.

 

[blundluntman]

Okay, so he has never led his team to anything. Thank you

You're trying too hard to be edgy

 

[GreatGonzo]

His entire 2020-2021 campaign was basically a no show, and he struggled in elimination games early in his career.

The last two seasons have been fantastic, however you have to admit finishing the playoffs with a -1 means something needs to change.

When Crosby had 8 points in 6 games against the flyers in 2011 nobody was patting him on the back, we were critical. The system had strayed away from its winning ways and Crosby shared in the blame.

Let’s look at the sample sizes shall
We?

In 2021, he had 4 points in 4 games, including a goal in game 4 where they lost in OT. The year before he had 9 points in 4 games including 2 assists in a 3-2 loss in game 4. So no, I don’t understand where you’re getting this idea that he struggled. I think you are once again putting it all on him that his TEAM lost.

But it wasn’t ALL crosbys fault, was it. That’s my entire point. You need others to step up and Crosby had that later on, McDavid hasn’t.

Okay, so he has never led his team to anything. Thank you

once again, lazy and terrible take. Just because you say it doesn’t mean it’s the truth

 

[HugginThePost]

I think it's pretty apparent that he's hurt. I'm guessing it's not enough to keep him off the ice, but bad enough to make him look ordinary.

I am the furthest thing from an Oiler or McDavid fan, but you can see something isn't right. To think he's suddenly forgotten how to play hockey at an elite level is just crazy. His game is based on explosive speed and stick handling. For whatever reason, he has neither right now.

The pathetic part of this situation has been Drai's performance. It's no secret, he's my least favorite hockey player. He's a hell of a talent, but how he plays the game rubs me the wrong way. I've always said he was a product of McDavid, not to the extent many posters here claim. He sure isn't stepping up. The guy looks like shit. He can't be bothered to do anything unless he's on the PP, and even then, he's been horrible.

McDavid will be fine; he's the best player on the planet. He either needs to sit out until he's better, or his supporting cast needs to give him some f***ing help.

 

[Hank Plank]

97 has brought pure joy and optimism since day 1 the inspiration just leaps off your screen.

 

[Cursed Lemon]

Okay, so he has never led his team to anything. Thank you

Name the number of skaters that have single-handedly dragged their team to a Cup

Oh there aren't any

 

[Nathaniel Skywalker]

What you are seeing is mcdavid without his speed. He is gonna need to adjust his game in the upcoming years

 

[Staniowski]

I guess everyone else can't score either since he's 2nd in Even-strength goals since he's entered the league.

I don't think you understood my post. What I said was that McDavid has been unable to score at ES against good teams. In particular, in McDavid's last 40 games (last 20 games of the '23 regular season, the 12 games of the '23 playoffs, and the 8 games this season), he has only scored 3 ES goals against even half-decent teams (basically playoff teams).....3 in 40 games!

He scores on the PP, he scores at ES against terrible teams. But he doesn't score at ES against playoff-quality teams.

Why hasnt he been able to score goals against decent opponents?

 

[Roksta]

Good job everyone, now he is scoring a hat trick tonight ffs

 

[Crosby2010]

What you are seeing is mcdavid without his speed. He is gonna need to adjust his game in the upcoming years

He scores on the PP, he scores at ES against terrible teams. But he doesn't score at ES against playoff-quality teams.

Why hasnt he been able to score goals against decent opponents?

They all ended up this way, those players who rely a lot on speed. It happened to Lafleur as well. Obviously there are things to like about Lafleur other than his speed, but that was his bread and butter and when that waned it showed. I would hate to see McDavid end up like this because he is just a thing of beauty on the ice at full flight. But if his speed is the first thing to go then it will be noticeable.

I do love McDavid, and the guy already has 5 Art Ross trophies to his name and three Harts. That's already in very exclusive company. I did mention though that it is very difficult to keep winning scoring titles, and there is a reason only Gretzky has more than 6 (10). I think most people were to blinded by the 153 point year thinking he could easily duplicate it. I knew how hard that would be to ever do it again.

 

[Unbiased Fan]

He’s just waiting until he’s a UFA so he can sign a 1 year league minimum contract to win a cup for the leafs.

 

[Wildcarder]

He's still getting some assists but he's definitely playing hurt. Don't think it's his straight on speed, it looks like his ability to stick handle side to side / let off shots while moving that way.

 

[Bobby9]

He looks completely dejected

 

[WaitingForThatCab]

McDavid is very, very obviously playing through an injury. Shell of himself.

 

[ViD]

McDavid is very, very obviously playing through an injury. Shell of himself.

No, he’s not, just a slump

 

[CgyFlamesftw]

Looks hurt or has completely given up on the oilers.

 

[Church Hill]

He's injured, he missed time and came back too early because of the sucking streak. This kind of stuff builds resentment, makes work hard.

 

[olafsson]

He has finally given up because he knows the Oilers are going nowhere this season or any season

 

[SeanMoneyHands]

I'm sure McDavid is sick and tired of carrying the load in Edmonton. Year after year with very little support. McDavid is the Oilers and everyone else are passengers. That even includes Draisaitl too because we all know his stats are hugely inflated from playing with McDavid.

 

[McJedi]

I’m watching the game tonight. McDavid doesn’t look 100%. Maybe 90%, but he’s not fully back.

this Brouchard guy is a dumb defender. Makes a lot of dumb reads. He just gave away a 2 on 1 for a pointless pinch. Then was late to realize his mistake and gave up the rebound goal because his hockey IQ is like a 1990s computer processor. It is slow. His feet move fast, but I’m pretty sure he’s as dumb as a box of rocks. He sure plays like it.

 

[Bounces R Way]

Well from this game it seems pretty clear. He's just a baby back bitch.



If you're going to fight him then just fight him. Drop the gloves. What are you waiting for?

 

[MacMacandBarbie]

Revisionist history to appear less biased at its finest. Very few, even amongst those normally were, were critical of Crosby at that point in time, because he had only been back from another concussion for a month up to that point. The bigger concern on everyone’s minds was just how much of a career Crosby was going to have going forward.

Eh not true, people can have conflicting opinions. Superstars are always going to shoulder blame.

NHL Playoffs 2012: Sidney Crosby, from Prodigy to Punk

Toward the end of Pittsburgh's loss to the Flyers on Sunday, the ever creative Flyers fans began a chant of "You can't beat us!" As the NBC cameras scoured the Penguins bench ...

syndication.bleacherreport.com

 

[MacMacandBarbie]

Let’s look at the sample sizes shall
We?

In 2021, he had 4 points in 4 games, including a goal in game 4 where they lost in OT. The year before he had 9 points in 4 games including 2 assists in a 3-2 loss in game 4. So no, I don’t understand where you’re getting this idea that he struggled. I think you are once again putting it all on him that his TEAM lost.

One goal in 4 games for the greatest offense talent we have seen in 30+ years is underwhelming, sorry. He also finished -2 that year.

You can shrug +/- off I guess, but it’s a shame that McDavid can’t win his matchups with consistency over the course of notable sample sizes in the playoffs.

But it wasn’t ALL crosbys fault, was it. That’s my entire point. You need others to step up and Crosby had that later on, McDavid hasn’t.

No it wasn’t all Crosby’s fault, but he acknowledged that he as the leader of the team can’t let the game get away from them on the defensive side like that in order to win.

 

[Bobby9]

Been saying it for years. He’s not a winner. He’s not a leader.