McDavid Right Now vs. Crosby at His Peak

[heysmilinstrange]

It's hard to tell what Crosby's peak is because he lost most of it to injuries.

 

[Crabapple]

McDavid right now is better than Crosby's peak, and below Ovechkin's.

I'd agree with this. They're very different player, but OV is the GOAT goal scorer. Very fun career to watch.

 

[Crabapple]

I think if Crosby was healthier during his peak seasons we would have a definitive answer, but too much of it was cut short.

 

[Machinehead]

Crosby was on pace for 132 points when the Steckel hit happened.

Frankly, it's close NOW. McDavid is far and away the best offensive player on the planet right now but Crosby had 100 points in his own right and probably should have won the Selke. McDavid isn't exactly good defensively.

McDavid is 22 and can continue developing and also has the chance to stay healthier, so he may very well have a better career. To this point however, I'm not sure he's ever been the complete hockey player Sid is at any age.

 

[Machinehead]

We also have to take into account that Draisaitl makes Kunitz and Dupuis look like beer league players.

 

[authentic]

Going by era toughness for assessing why a player is better is silly.

People were saying 10 years ago Crosby wouldn't last in the dead puck era, which was also nonsense. So far McDavid has compared as favourably to his peers as Crosby did, if not more so. Most of the people I discuss hockey with in person think McDavid is better, and I tend to agree. I have a feeling it won't be long before that becomes apparent, but for now there is an argument to be made for either.

I think the big thing against McDavid right now is the playoffs. It's tough to say someone who has only been in the playoffs once with 9 points in 13 games is better than the best playoff player of a 15 year period, with 2 Conn Smythes 3 Stanley Cups 4 finals appearances and the most overall playoff points to show for it. What I believe is that McDavid is the better talent and only time will tell for sure.

 

[HockeyDBspecialist]

people picking Mcdavid over Crosby, Crosby is GOLD in his own zone, not Mcdavid...

 

[HockeyDBspecialist]

Yeah I’m biased, but Crosby is a different type of dominance, and one I prefer. I have never seen a player as unstoppable as him at his best. Absolutely nothing teams can do.

this, IMO Crosby is in his own league, he's a lot more unique than Mcdavid.


Again, this is my opinion, Mcdavid is the most impressive player to watch, ever. But Crosby has everything a true #1 superstar should have.

 

[Zamuz]

McDavid isn't exactly good defensively.

The best defensive hockey is puck possession bro

 

[Machinehead]

The best defensive hockey is puck possession bro

I'm thinking Crosby is better at that too given his board play

 

[Tasty Biscuits]

Want to see what McD can do during a playoff run first. Until then, Sid.

 

[Machinehead]

Want to see what McD can do during a playoff run first. Until then, Sid.

McDavid has been to the playoffs.

 

[Tasty Biscuits]

McDavid has been to the playoffs.

I know, I was being generous to him though since it, being his first run, wasn't all that impressive considering his abilities.

 

[Machinehead]

I know, I was being generous to him though since it, being his first run, wasn't all that impressive considering his abilities.

Fair.

 

[Regal]

The best defensive hockey is puck possession bro

Which Crosby's better at. McDavid is a very north-south player, so while he does have the puck a lot due to his skill/anticipation, etc, he isn't spending the same time in the offensive zone working the boards like the best possession players.

 

[Apotheosis]

McDavid.

 

[snipes]

I'm thinking Crosby is better at that too given his board play

McDavids puck control and stick handling at full flight speed is unprecedented in the history of the NHL.

Relatively speaking, Orr would be the only comparable.

 

[TheMule93]

theyre close enough that I don't know either answer is wrong at this point

 

[Trap Jesus]

Crosby was on pace for 132 points when the Steckel hit happened.

Frankly, it's close NOW. McDavid is far and away the best offensive player on the planet right now but Crosby had 100 points in his own right and probably should have won the Selke. McDavid isn't exactly good defensively.

McDavid is 22 and can continue developing and also has the chance to stay healthier, so he may very well have a better career. To this point however, I'm not sure he's ever been the complete hockey player Sid is at any age.

This BS only started when the narrative started to shift to McDavid being the better player. Literally no one considered Crosby great defensively during those peak years. All I remember is people talking about his improved faceoffs outside of his offensive play, and that's something that didn't exactly keep up either. Also, McDavid's speed alone makes him effective defensively to at least some degree that Crosby never was.

 

[Machinehead]

McDavids puck control and stick handling at full flight speed is unprecedented in the history of the NHL.

Relatively speaking, Orr would be the only comparable.

Absolutely, but the ability to carry the puck is very different from the skills needed to maintain possession over the course of a shift, especially for forwards.

The best player at literally possessing the puck on his stick is Patrick Kane and he might be the worst defender in the NHL.

 

[Machinehead]

This BS only started when the narrative started to shift to McDavid being the better player. Literally no one considered Crosby great defensively during those peak years. All I remember is people talking about his improved faceoffs outside of his offensive play, and that's something that didn't exactly keep up either. Also, McDavid's speed alone makes him effective defensively to at least some degree that Crosby never was.

I assumed it was a narrative at first as well, but it isn't.

Look at Crosby's defensive impacts next to the guy who actually won the Selke.

 

[Trap Jesus]

I assumed it was a narrative at first as well, but it isn't.

Look at Crosby's defensive impacts next to the guy who actually won the Selke.

This is such a simplistic way of looking at it, all you need to do is watch the two to know there's a massive difference between them. Crosby is always near the top of actually driving play but there's a definite difference between them when you watch them defend. These numbers can only represent so much.

 

[Machinehead]

This is such a simplistic way of looking at it, all you need to do is watch the two to know there's a massive difference between them. Crosby is always near the top of actually driving play but there's a definite difference between them when you watch them defend. These numbers can only represent so much.

So once again we're going to respond to the evidence by saying "yeah but just look at them"?

Pens fans who look at Crosby 82 times a year say he's outstanding defensively FWIW.

 

[Luigi Lemieux]

Crosby's dominance might be more subtle but he has no weaknesses. He's good at every facet of the game in every area of the ice. I don't think McDavid is quite where Crosby was at from 2010-14. Especially considering Crosby was playing with Kunitz and Dupuis and it was a lower scoring era. It's close though, same caliber player.

 

[Luigi Lemieux]

Crosby was on pace for 132 points when the Steckel hit happened.

Frankly, it's close NOW. McDavid is far and away the best offensive player on the planet right now but Crosby had 100 points in his own right and probably should have won the Selke. McDavid isn't exactly good defensively.

McDavid is 22 and can continue developing and also has the chance to stay healthier, so he may very well have a better career. To this point however, I'm not sure he's ever been the complete hockey player Sid is at any age.

I think McDavid may end up peaking slightly higher offensively, but I don't think he'll ever have the same two way game or board play/puck possession ability. He also depends a lot on his speed so may not age as gracefully as Crosby. Will he still be putting up 100 point seasons at age 31 or 32?