Is Connor McDavid better suited as a Winger?

[EdmFlyersfan]

Is Connor McDavid better suited as a Winger?

• He averages between 35%-41% face-off percentage in the playoffs
• Below average 200' game
• Poor defensive coverages

Quality centers usually excel in those areas, especially come playoff time when those are even more important.

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[jetsforever]

If you have a 1.87 PPG #1C I don't think you need to turn him into a winger.

 

[2 others]

Is Connor McDavid better suited as a Winger?

• He averages between 35%-41% face-off percentage in the playoffs
• Below average 200' game
• Poor defensive coverages

Quality centers usually excel in those areas, especially come playoff time when those are even more important.

He never had to develop any of those qualities because he gets hyped endlessly by fans and media.

 

[Midnight Judges]

Teams can scheme to have wingers play more defense to set the centers free to focus on offense. The Penguins did it for Crosby for most of his career.

Point is, you really don't need a position change. You could always change the scheme a bit.

 

[Filthy Dangles]

Teams can scheme to have wingers play more defense to set the centers free to focus on offense. The Penguins did it for Crosby for most of his career.

Point is, you really don't need a position change. You could always change the scheme a bit.

lol

 

[780il]

For someone that hates the Oilers this dude sure spends a lot of time obsessing over them lol

 

[3074326]

Teams can scheme to have wingers play more defense to set the centers free to focus on offense. The Penguins did it for Crosby for most of his career.

Yes, that's exactly why Dupuis and Kunitz had their best offensive output with him. Because they were focused on defense.

Every time you mention Crosby, everyone else knows not to pay attention to anything else in that post.

 

[slobbergob]

I don't think taking the middle of the ice away from McDavid and forcing him to the boards is the best utilization of his strengths but what do I know.

He is going to have to improve his defensive game a bit. Either that or the Oilers will have to find him some wingers capable of covering for him.

Everyone loves bringing up Mackinnon in the playoff McDavid threads, but Landeskog is a monster in his own zone and helped let Mack develop his defensive game. And he still has engagement issues sometimes.

 

[Adele Dazeem]

I think you meant goalie. In which case, yes McDavid should convert to a goalie.

 

[silkyjohnson50]

lol

Why is that funny though? Dupuis absolutely took on some of Sid’s defensive roles similar to how to Kurri did for Gretzky and I’m sure someone did for Mario. Not ever center is a defensive stud, Crosby included.

 

[Nathaniel Skywalker]

Teams can scheme to have wingers play more defense to set the centers free to focus on offense. The Penguins did it for Crosby for most of his career.

Point is, you really don't need a position change. You could always change the scheme a bit.

You have no idea what your writing

 

[Brown Cat]

Teams can scheme to have wingers play more defense to set the centers free to focus on offense. The Penguins did it for Crosby for most of his career.

Point is, you really don't need a position change. You could always change the scheme a bit.

nice meme

 

[Offtheboard412]

Why is that funny though? Dupuis absolutely took on some of Sid’s defensive roles similar to how to Kurri did for Gretzky and I’m sure someone did for Mario. Not ever center is a defensive stud, Crosby included.

It's funny because he said they did it for most of his career. They did it for a couple seasons, certainly not for most of his career. It's also funny because that poster has dedicated most of his time on this forum to trying to downplay Crosby's defensive game. This is a thread about McDavid and of course he found a way to throw a jab a Crosby's defense still. It's just silly at this point.

 

[Midnight Judges]

You have no idea what your writing

I'm sure you have no ragrets

 

[Daeni10]

I don't think its a winger/center problem at all. It's just that McDavids greatest strength is probably the area that gets shut down the most in the playoffs due to the game being played harder (more stick work/interference) and tighter defensive system in general. Just makes it a lot "easier" for teams to shut him down compared to the regular season especially when you can focus completely on his line. It's also why I think Draisaitl has produced better in the Playoffs so far.
I think that gets better as soon as you have some depth that can put pressure on the other teams defence, not by moving him to the wing.

 

[Dache]

Is Connor McDavid better suited as a Winger?

• He averages between 35%-41% face-off percentage in the playoffs
• Below average 200' game
• Poor defensive coverages

Quality centers usually excel in those areas, especially come playoff time when those are even more important.

His FO percentage has been steadily climbing for years now as is with with most young players. The rest of this is severely overblown. He’s no seller winner but he’s not that bad defensively, just like many other Centers.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

It does make me pause to anoint him as one of the best ever because of some of the things the OP mentioned. Those are parts of the game that are a lot more effort and hard work based, and less about skill. Why can’t the best player in the world improve in those areas to become average or better?

He should get way more criticism for this than he does. Instead, you have people who say things like being a PK’er is a waste of time for elite players.

 

[John Johnson]

Better suited as a janitor.

jk

 

[lawrence]

there is no doubt in mind he can also play wing, but no, please don't. BTW Oilers lost 3 ot games any of these games could have gone either way. People making it sound like the Jets outsclassed them, the shots on goal were very similar in all 4 games. give it a break now.

 

[Lauro]

there is no doubt in mind he can also play wing, but no, please don't. BTW Oilers lost 3 ot games any of these games could have gone either way. People making it sound like the Jets outsclassed them, the shots on goal were very similar in all 4 games. give it a break now.

The Jets shouldn't be his gauge, though.

 

[Cousin Eddie]

He’s the greatest skater to ever play the game. I’m sure OP is just trying to stir the pot but it would be an absolute crime to restrict him to one side of the ice.

 

[spiny norman]

Lopsided result.