I'll preface this with saying that McDavid was #1 in my books for the Ross/Lindsay/Hart race for this season before we even knew about a shortened intra-divisional season.
But even if it's not a North-division thing, I think the shortened + intradivisional season plays a huge part of it. McDavid deserves all of the credit for how great he's dominating his peers right now, but I just don't personally believe that a 20% increase in his /gp production from last season has nothing to do with the oddity of a season where you only play the same 6 teams.
If he goes out and puts up 150 points next year, then I'll eat crow and be wrong. But I also wouldn't be surprised if he goes out and throws out 125-130 points next season and wins the Ross with that.
I'll preface this with saying that McDavid was #1 in my books for the Ross/Lindsay/Hart race for this season before we even knew about a shortened intra-divisional season.
But even if it's not a North-division thing, I think the shortened + intradivisional season plays a huge part of it. McDavid deserves all of the credit for how great he's dominating his peers right now, but I just don't personally believe that a 20% increase in his /gp production from last season has nothing to do with the oddity of a season where you only play the same 6 teams.
If he goes out and puts up 150 points next year, then I'll eat crow and be wrong. But I also wouldn't be surprised if he goes out and throws out 125-130 points next season and wins the Ross with that.
This is the right answer. These two things aren't mutually exclusiveMcDavid is a generational player, but his division is embarassing.
Mostly new divisions but it's still an achievement. This year is like the 05-06 in some ways. Some unreal numbers in an odd situation, but that doesn't diminish how incredible McDavid has been. He's not facing some of the best defenses in the league for 15-20. games, though.
For all those yammering on about the weak division, consider the teams he’d be playing more regularly if the regular division alignment were in play....
VGK, ARI, SJ, LAK, ANH: 114-118-27
Record of the teams that replaced them (TOR, MTL, WPG, OTT): 104-79-23
Why are we not seeing this with the other top players? I've heard this, but it should apply to the rest of the elite guys.
That's funny, I was just reading about how the Rangers goal totals are inflated because they have the great fortune to share a division with three bottom five defenses.
And apparently Eriksson Ek is only scoring because of the West, and McDavid because of the North. And I've been hearing all year about how awful the Central is.
- good players always tend to score more against weaker teams.
- there are weaker teams in every division (surprisingly evenly spread if you ask me).