bobholly39
Registered User
- Mar 10, 2013
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These are arguably the 4 best players in the league today, certainly from the younger generation after the Crosby/Ovi/Malkin era.
Who do you predict ends up with the best playoff record? Who 20 years from now will be ranked highest in an "all time top playoff performers" list? Each have their pro's and cons:
McDavid: Simply put - the best player. He's 'generational' - and if doesn't end up having the best career from the group ( and probably by a lot) it'll be a disappointment. But not all opportunities are created equal come playoffs. He's already a bit behind the 8 ball too. He was rather disappointing in his sophomore year in the playoffs in the 2018, outshined by his teammate Drai. This year he was on fire in the play-ins, but his team didn't even make the official "playoffs". We all know Oilers have struggled recently. To aspire to an all-time playoff record you have to have a decent enough team to give you the chances to go far. Does McDavid ever end up with a playoff record worthy of his talent?
Draisaitl: He suffers from the same "team fate" as McDavid, with Oilers struggling. He's slightly older too - but he actually had the better playoff performance in 2017. He also did very good in play-ins this year. Could this be a Malkin/Crosby situation, where Malkin outshone Crosby in 2009 - does Drai have more runs in him where he outshines McDavid? And can he especially translate it into a better career playoff record over the long run? With Crosby/Malkin - Crosby overtook Malkin in the long run for playoffs, even though Malkin looked better early on in 2009. How does Drai vs McDavid land for playoffs?
MacKinnon: MacKinnon has done great so far in playoffs, and he even did great back in juniors. 54 points in 40 games is pretty insane. But - he's already 25, and technically still hasn't ever gotten past round 2. He seems to have the right team to go far - but not too long ago Ovechkin was in the same predicament, often great looking teams and great individual performances but never past round 2. As good as he's been on a per game basis, it's really in rounds 3 and especially 4 that you forge your playoff legacy. Does he make it there, and does he continue to perform as well as he has? And can he top the Oilers duo in the long run - who offensively might both be better than him and both are still younger too.
Kucherov: At the present, he has the best record easily and also is on the best team/best possibility to add in future. He already has 95 playoff points and 90 games played - and 4 3+ round runs. Simply put he's been excellent. He didn't win the smythe in 2020 - but probably could have with his performance in other years. He's the oldest, but certainly young enough to have a ton of years left ahead. And Tampa is favorite for the cup again next year - and honestly I wouldn't be shocked to see them among a top 5 contender for the next 5 years, being so deep and young with their core. So possibly a lot more playoff success to come in near future. Is it enough to forge a better playoff career than the above 3 players?
Vote for the player you predict ends up with the best career playoff record.
Also - Rank Them. Predict the ranking of Greatest playoff performer to least great by the time they all retire.
Who do you predict ends up with the best playoff record? Who 20 years from now will be ranked highest in an "all time top playoff performers" list? Each have their pro's and cons:
McDavid: Simply put - the best player. He's 'generational' - and if doesn't end up having the best career from the group ( and probably by a lot) it'll be a disappointment. But not all opportunities are created equal come playoffs. He's already a bit behind the 8 ball too. He was rather disappointing in his sophomore year in the playoffs in the 2018, outshined by his teammate Drai. This year he was on fire in the play-ins, but his team didn't even make the official "playoffs". We all know Oilers have struggled recently. To aspire to an all-time playoff record you have to have a decent enough team to give you the chances to go far. Does McDavid ever end up with a playoff record worthy of his talent?
Draisaitl: He suffers from the same "team fate" as McDavid, with Oilers struggling. He's slightly older too - but he actually had the better playoff performance in 2017. He also did very good in play-ins this year. Could this be a Malkin/Crosby situation, where Malkin outshone Crosby in 2009 - does Drai have more runs in him where he outshines McDavid? And can he especially translate it into a better career playoff record over the long run? With Crosby/Malkin - Crosby overtook Malkin in the long run for playoffs, even though Malkin looked better early on in 2009. How does Drai vs McDavid land for playoffs?
MacKinnon: MacKinnon has done great so far in playoffs, and he even did great back in juniors. 54 points in 40 games is pretty insane. But - he's already 25, and technically still hasn't ever gotten past round 2. He seems to have the right team to go far - but not too long ago Ovechkin was in the same predicament, often great looking teams and great individual performances but never past round 2. As good as he's been on a per game basis, it's really in rounds 3 and especially 4 that you forge your playoff legacy. Does he make it there, and does he continue to perform as well as he has? And can he top the Oilers duo in the long run - who offensively might both be better than him and both are still younger too.
Kucherov: At the present, he has the best record easily and also is on the best team/best possibility to add in future. He already has 95 playoff points and 90 games played - and 4 3+ round runs. Simply put he's been excellent. He didn't win the smythe in 2020 - but probably could have with his performance in other years. He's the oldest, but certainly young enough to have a ton of years left ahead. And Tampa is favorite for the cup again next year - and honestly I wouldn't be shocked to see them among a top 5 contender for the next 5 years, being so deep and young with their core. So possibly a lot more playoff success to come in near future. Is it enough to forge a better playoff career than the above 3 players?
Vote for the player you predict ends up with the best career playoff record.
Also - Rank Them. Predict the ranking of Greatest playoff performer to least great by the time they all retire.
