I don't at all agree with your statement that there is no gap between Crosby-Schmidt and Mikita-Getzlaf offensively. After making the necessary adjustments it is clear that Crosby- Schmidt are better. 7yr scores as they stand are:
Mikita: 107.8
Crosby: 102.4
Schmidt: 86.9
Getzlaf: 83.7
C-S: 189.3
M-G: 191.5
Only 2 points apart and that is before the following is factored in:
1. The previously mentioned underrating of Schimdt's vs.X score due to WWII
2. Crosby's offense is underrated by the vs.X metric due to his injury history. Looking at per game vs.X Crosby is ahead of Mikita in 3, 5, 7, and 10 yr scores.
3. Because Bobby Hull played on a separate line, Mikita was usually not facing top D pairings/checkers, which likely inflated his scoring somewhat.
Does anyone really think Mikita was a better offensive player than Crosby? I sure don't.
1. That is a hypothetical. Even if I agree with you somewhat, Schmidt can't be given credit for seasons he never had.
2. Again, hypothetical. I'm as big a Crosby fan as you'll ever find, but like Mario Lemieux, we can't give a boost to maybes and what ifs.
3. Mikita also produced with what I'd call sub par wingers most of his career (like Crosby btw) relative to what other star C's of the time period were skating with. He was also going up against 06 defenses the first half of his career which would have presented more consistent obstruction to scoring unlike today when the league features numerous bottom feeding teams to beat up on IMO. League scoring averages were pretty similar as well from the 60's compared to today.
I think Mikita was every bit the offensive power Crosby was.
Scoring finishings
Mikita - 1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 3, 3, 3, 4
Crosby - 1, 1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 6, 10
-Mikita comes out on top IMO, although yes, that would be a different story if Sid hadn't lost 2010 and the 2012 seasons. He'd easily have 4 Art Ross's to tie Mikita. But again, that is what if.
Assists:
Mikita - 1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8
Crosby - 1, 2, 2, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9
-Mikita pretty much owns Sid here. Even if you were to transfer one or two of those low hanging fruit years from Sid into a top 3, he's not really THAT close to Mikita as a play maker.
Goals:
Mikita - 2, 2, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Crosby - 1, 1, 7, 7,
-Crosby wins on peak, but depth goes to Mikita.