I mean I agree that I think Girard has been better this season. Where I disagree is that 1) I don't think the margin between the two is huge and 2) the points were a byproduct of his teammates argument is just bad. Anyone who watched the Avs consistently know that after the first 10 games of the season Makar learned how to take over games offensively and wasn't a product of Mack.
Obviously what I said has been interpreted in a completely different way of what was meant since multiple people are now coming to this conclusion.
I didn't at any point mean to suggest Cale is a product of his teammates. What I have said and continue to say is, when you get lots of offensive zone starts, when you're used heavily in situations where you're trying to score goals, and less so in situations where you're trying to defend a lead... And when you are the #1 PP QB, you are being given opportunity and situational preference to produce points.
That's not a matter of opinion either. It is a well known fact that players production in the league is massively influenced by a combination of who you play with and the opportunity you get. I know of people doing studies on this right now and coming to some pretty damn compelling statistical evidence of just how big of an impact it has.
It's not necessarily a knock to Makar or his game either. He's the best Offensive Defender on this team, he's the guy who should be getting those opportunities to be on the ice for offensive zone faceoffs, to get the PP minutes, and to be out on the ice more in games where the Avs are trailing and need goals.
Makar gets more ice time in games the Avs lose, and less ice time in the games the Avs win. Part of the reason is because in losses, the Avs spend time driving and pushing play harder to try and tie the game up. These are some of those offensive opportunities Cale gets.
Girard sees a spike in his minutes when the team is trailing as well, but not as much as Cale sees the spikes. Part of this is because the two see time on the ice together when the team is losing as well. The big factor is that Girards minutes overall are much closer to the ~21 minutes a night average. Regardless of a win or a loss he's around 21 minutes a night quite consistently. While Cale sees a wider fluctuation. He has a lot of games under 18 minutes a night, but also a lot over 24 a night.
Basically, Cale is elite offensively yes, he's also being set up exceptionally well by Bednar to be elite offensively. He deserves the opportunities, but that still doesn't change that it is opportunity he is getting.
The smartest people who write and track stats on hockey have Cale Makar as a top 10 defenseman in the NHL this season. Like unanimously too. Not just sneaking into some random lists here and there. Every single list. I haven’t seen Girard sniff any of those lists.
I love Girard and his all round game definitely makes him close in value to Makar right now. Especially to our team where team defense is needed. Girard eats heavier defensive responsibility than most even understand. However it’s just not reasonable to say he’s been better by a considerable gap.
Maybe this is part of the problem as well? I dont think anyone here is debating the value of these guys are they? They're not even in the same ball park when talking value. Cale is a 20 year old Rookie having a generational rookie season. He has tonnes more value than Girard. No doubt about that.
Purely on ice is what I'm arguing. And strictly this season as well.
Here in lies the difference in thinking, Pierce. Particularly in the bolded section.
You’re comparing Makar to Girard of last season. A year, where Girard put up 27 points in 82 games. Makar was on pace for a 72 point year, if healthy. That’s a pretty big difference.
It’s almost like offensive production means nothing to you. Just saying that Makar has brilliant dynamic traits, but he’s still looking for consistency is a bit of a disservice to Makar.
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Maybe I should have been more clear here. Defensively, Makar is a lot like Girard last year, where there's flashes and signs of figuring things out but not putting it all together yet. Offensively, Cale has just about everything figured out already. That's for sure.
If we want to break down individual parts of their game I think you can say Girard is better than Makar at his defensive zone positioning and his defensive stick (both by a fair margin too). Makar is better at pretty much everything else.
I'll probably open up another can of worms with this one but... I think Girard is actually a slightly better skater.
Cale has a higher top end speed... But Sam is much more laterally efficient. Similar to the Cale/Quinn debate here on the better skater. And I used to be in the Cale Makar camp on this one and got into some heated arguments on the main boards on this topic, but having watched Quinn closer I think its clearly Quinn Hughes now. His lateral movement just allows him to make plays an NHL defender should not be able to make. Cales got that overall speed advantage and he may very well be the fastest guy on the Avs, even faster than Nate when he gets going. But his lateral movements while still very, very good, aren't what Sammy's are. Depends on what you prefer more here I guess. I like the agility more in my Dmen.
The way I see it....
Cale is better in the Offensive zone. They're equally as good(Both are elite) in the Neutral zone, and Girard being better in the Defensive zone.
Overall, Girard is a little better because I think Makar is average to below average in his own zone right now. Lots of signs of excellence to come in that regard. But the full package isn't put together yet.
I also haven't ever said that the gap is large between the two. All I've said is that its a big enough margin that there's a clear better player. Like Mackinnon and Eichel for example. Both phenomenal players, but there's enough of a gap in skill between the two that one is the better player over the other. Small gap, but a gap.
