What's wrong with Connor McDavid this season? Lowest PPG and GPG output in ~7-8 years for him

[EdmFlyersfan]

After just getting married I think he's discovering there's more to life than just hockey. I also think he's a bit tired of playing for a team that has obvious problems that never seem to get fixed.. year after year.

McDavid is busy helping build his wife's business, hockey is second now.

Is this the part where we say he's sAviNg HiMsELf fOr tHe pLaYoFfS

Or the second bullet point is that "he's more defensive now"

 

[eojsmada]

Didn't look like his legs were in any distress during 4 nations....

Aside from the first 5-10 minutes of each game, he definitely did not have the same "quickness" for the rest of it.

 

[LokiDog]

A lot of the all time greats - especially after a crushing loss in the finals, learn to practice better load management and make sure to keep something in the tank for the playoffs. Connor clearly, at this point, cares way more about winning. If it helped his team win he’d be happy to put up 50 points a year, is my guess. Down years also happen. 115 points in a down year is laughably elite. Let’s see if he shows an extra gear in the playoffs, and even if he doesn’t, let’s not start putting money on anything less than 125 again next year. I could see making this thread it Connor was pacing for 90 points, but right now, he’s a heater away from still finishing with 120+ and we have no idea how his post season will look.

 

[NVious]

Imagine you're McDavid, you've been busting your tail for a decade+ for an incredibly incompetent organization.

You take them to the finals with one of the greatest post season performances in NHL history.

Ok time for offseason and hopefully upgrade our needs....

Lose Holloway/Broberg

No biggie....

Add Jeff Skinner, no goalie, no D

Ok...

Season starts, maybe gonna add a D? D

Adds John Frigging Klingberg......................................

WE NEED DEFENSIVE HELP GUISE

"No worries Cons, we got you"

ADDS FRIGGING TRAVIS DERMOTT

I'm just glad McDavid didn't jump off the Edmonton Mall slide.

 

[MessierThanThou]

This is a team that will be remembered for squandering an epic cup window with poor goaltending, all because "he's a nice kid."

 

[Iggys Dome]

He won’t win the art ross but he’ll still finish with 115 points.

He’ll also turn it up in the playoffs, he’s a big game player. I’ve learned not to bet against McDavid.

 

[PamBallam]

Reminds me of Crosby around the back to back cups era. Late twenties and still super elite, but not going balls to the wall every single regular season game to keep yourself fresh for the playoffs. Not turning this into a Sid vs Connor thing, just an apt observation

 

[LTIR]

Thanks for this thread... he seems to crank it up right after thread like these are started.

 

[TheSuperElite]

it needs to be noted that MacKinnon is farming empty nets, he is far from #1 this season

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

Very possible that at 28 we've already seen his peak. Especially for someone whose skating set him apart.

He's still in contention for the best player in the world, but not head-and-shoulders above the likes of Draisaitl or MacKinnon, and can be outperformed by them in any given year.

I'm curious to see how his game ages in the next few years, and long term I somewhat doubt he's going to be effective at 35+ to the same degree that Crosby and Ovechkin have been, in their own ways.

I remember Mike Gartner still blazing by defenders when he was 35 years old, but keep crossing those fingers that somehow McDavid will fall off a cliff.

 

[Pablo El Perro]

I'd say he's saving it for the playoffs, but it'd be hard to beat his playoff numbers from last year. Maybe he's maturing and letting his teammates step up a bit.

 

[I Hate Blake Coleman]

This is a team that will be remembered for squandering an epic cup window with poor goaltending, all because "he's a nice kid."

Lebrun was on TSN (during Mavs @ Lakers) saying Edmonton's front office isn't looking to upgrade in net because they don't think there is a clear upgrade available, which is ridiculous.

 

[Heldig]

Clearly McDavid is resting for the playoffs.

 

[SladeWilson23]

He's clearly not "DIGGING THE f*** IN" anymore.

 

[LokiDog]

I'd say he's saving it for the playoffs, but it'd be hard to beat his playoff numbers from last year. Maybe he's maturing and letting his teammates step up a bit.

He doesn’t have to exceed his numbers to have more in the tank. Not everything is measured in points. You can impact the final score in ways that aren’t all tracked on the score sheet. Having more in the reserves for a 4 round playoff run can manifest itself in ways other than having even more points than last year.

 

[Pablo El Perro]

He doesn’t have to exceed his numbers to have more in the tank. Not everything is measured in points. You can impact the final score in ways that aren’t all tracked on the score sheet. Having more in the reserves for a 4 round playoff run can manifest itself in ways other than having even more points than last year.

I get that, hence qualifying the point with his teammates stepping up. It wouldn't be the first time a player had more team success when he plays a more team game.