Is MacKinnon McDavid's Ovechkin?

[AvsFan29]

If MacKinnon’s first 4 years is used against him then I guess a bunch of guys like Eberle, Hall, Duchene, Seguin, Landeskog, Aho etc... are a lot better than him, atleast by just looking at the numbers. Not saying we should just forget those 4 years but it makes a lot more sense to look at where he is right now than where he was in his first few years. It’s almost like players don’t develop linearly

Matthews is better than MacKinnon, despite his numbers not being nearly as good this season or last, because MacKinnon had a bad year 3 years ago.

And no, Matthews playoff record, potentially stupid contract, and bad shoulders don't count.

 

[authentic]

For the last time...

CROSBY OVECHKIN AND MCDAVID ARE ALL COMPARABLE. NOBODY ELSE CURRENTLY IN THE NHL IS COMPARABLE TO THOSE 3

I'm not sure anyone is comparing careers here. For a season and a half almost MacKinnon has a higher PPG than McDavid. Crosby and Ovechkin have not been as good since the start of last season.

 

[authentic]

If MacKinnon’s first 4 years is used against him then I guess a bunch of guys like Eberle, Hall, Duchene, Seguin, Landeskog, Aho etc... are a lot better than him, atleast by just looking at the numbers. Not saying we should just forget those 4 years but it makes a lot more sense to look at where he is right now than where he was in his first few years. It’s almost like players don’t develop linearly

Not all players you mean? None of those players were as good as Matthews as a rookie. Also no one is saying for sure he will produce better than MacKinnon currently, we are saying he definitely has the potential. Not sure how you could watch him play and come away thinking otherwise.

 

[AvsFan29]

For the last time...

CROSBY OVECHKIN AND MCDAVID ARE ALL COMPARABLE. NOBODY ELSE CURRENTLY IN THE NHL IS COMPARABLE TO THOSE 3

There are a lot of players doing better than Ovechkin or Crosby. Why can't they be compared? I understand they can't be compared when it comes to career achievements, but there's 10-15 guys who absolutely compare with them right now when you look at offensive numbers.

 

[Varan]

There are a lot of players doing better than Ovechkin or Crosby. Why can't they be compared? I understand they can't be compared when it comes to career achievements, but there's 10-15 guys who absolutely compare with them right now when you look at offensive numbers.

because when the going gets tough these players come through!

 

[wetcoast]

Mackinnon is my favourite non-Leaf player in the league but I think it's still Matthews. They have been compared more since Matthews entered the league whether fans like it or not.

Pretty much this.

 

[KoozNetsOff 92]

There are a lot of players doing better than Ovechkin or Crosby. Why can't they be compared? I understand they can't be compared when it comes to career achievements, but there's 10-15 guys who absolutely compare with them right now when you look at offensive numbers.

With Crosby maybe, but OV? OV won the rocket in a walk last season, PPG+, playoff rocket, PPG+ playoff, 2nd in goals right now and PPG+ again. I'll give you McDavid and MacK, probably Malkin and Kucherov. But who are the other 10-15 comparable to that?

 

[Absolut]

McDavid doesn't have an Ovechkin. MacKinnon, Matthews, Kucherov are all great. None has the style of play or the personality to be McDavid's true rival. Sid and Ovie were both true superstars, polar opposites personality-wise, and supposedly hated each other. Now, that's a recipe for a real rivalry.

 

[AvsFan29]

With Crosby maybe, but OV? OV won the rocket in a walk last season, PPG+, playoff rocket, PPG+ playoff, 2nd in goals right now and PPG+ again. I'll give you McDavid and MacK, probably Malkin and Kucherov. But who are the other 10-15 comparable to that?

Yah that's true. Ovi has been incredible. You could look at Laine who is nearly on par with goals the last couple years.

 

[AvsFan29]

Pretty much this.

Matthews isn't in the top 5 players closest to McDavid.

 

[wetcoast]

Matthews isn't in the top 5 players closest to McDavid.

Really, can you name the 5 that are?

Also the more I think about it, if Eichel has some playoff success it might get interesting.

 

[BoldNewLettuce]

as of right now they are the two best players of their era....yes.

 

[moropanov]

Ovechkins bad hockey player anyway so bad comparison to begin with.

 

[cgf]

Auston Matthews would make for a nifty 2nd line center in colorado.

 

[KoozNetsOff 92]

Really, can you name the 5 that are?

Also the more I think about it, if Eichel has some playoff success it might get interesting.

MacK
Ovechkin
Malkin
Crosby
Kucherov

It's not that hard to name 5 players better than Matthews.

 

[nowhereman]

I don't even think McDavid is quite on the level of prime Crosby and Ovechkin, let alone anyone else in today's current NHL. McDavid has no peers, at this point, and certainly not someone as good as OV.

 

[wetcoast]

MacK
Ovechkin
Malkin
Crosby
Kucherov

It's not that hard to name 5 players better than Matthews.

I took the comment to be in the spirit of this thread, ie peers around the same age on similar career type tracks.

Also I'm not sure if all 5 of those guys will be better by the end of this season either.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Who?

 

[Ulysses31]

amazing thread title

 

[AvsFan29]

Really, can you name the 5 that are?

Also the more I think about it, if Eichel has some playoff success it might get interesting.

McDavid
MacKinnon
Kucherov
Rantanen
Malkin
Ovechkin
Wheeler
Crosby
Maybe Marner

 

[AvsFan29]

Auston Matthews would make for a nifty 2nd line center in colorado.

Wouldn't want that cap hit for a guy with 2 bum shoulders and a terrible playoff record

 

[North Cole]

Wouldn't want that cap hit for a guy with 2 bum shoulders and a terrible playoff record

Seems like you're being intentionally obtuse at this point

 

[AvsFan29]

Seems like you're being intentionally obtuse at this point

Just kidding around. Those would be concerns, but I'm just bugging the leaf fans who turn every thread into leafs talk.

 

[TomasHertlsRooster]

There are a lot of players doing better than Ovechkin or Crosby. Why can't they be compared? I understand they can't be compared when it comes to career achievements, but there's 10-15 guys who absolutely compare with them right now when you look at offensive numbers.

We are talking about their peak. People are saying that another player can be the “Ovechkin to McDavid’s Crosby” in that Ovechkin and Crosby were undisputedly the two best players in the NHL for multiple seasons during their peak. Right now, McDavid is undisputedly number one and there is nobody who compares to McDavid or is even undisputedly number two.

 

[cgf]

Wouldn't want that cap hit for a guy with 2 bum shoulders and a terrible playoff record

It's ok, it'd be like having Foppa again...where we could make do if he missed the entire regular season, as long as he was healthy for the playoffs.

Plus with the MacK-steal, we have the room to carry 1 bad contract...as long as some of MacK's clutchness rubbed off on him.