I would say the comment that the list is trending towards 1980's-present is an obvious one if you think about it. The range of "1980's to present" is a range of time that is constantly getting longer. The last time we did this list, it was a period of 28 years. Today it is a period of 38+ years. The next time we do this list say 10 years from now, it will continue to trend that way. McDavid will most certainly be on the list, along with how knows how many other current players. The real test is the number of players on the list whose careers have ended in the last 10 years.
There were 18 such players on the 2008 list. Quid has not added the years the player was active to the current list in progress and I don't feel like checking each player manually. But How many players are on the list whose careers have needed more recently than 2008? Is it more than 18? Quickly scanning through the list, it does not appear to be the case.
Having said that, the last 20 spots could easily be modern-heavy, but it's something interesting to check out once we're all done here and named #100.
I've been monitoring player active years as I was trying to compare to a MLB top 100 list breakdown, so here's my breakdown of players by decade (using x6-x7 as it works better with NHL years). You've elected 84 of the 100 so far, so the numbers obviously are only up to there. I was trying to figure out how MLB milestones like the NL from the NA, the pitching mound at 60'6", the AL/World Series, integration and expansion compared to the NHL from the NHA, the consolidation of leagues, the forward pass, the Original 6 era, and expansion.
Active 1917 - 3 Top 50, 5 Top 100; 8 Total - 4* teams, 39 skaters, 6 goalies (non-consolidated)
Active 1927 - 7 Top 50, 4 Top 100; 11 Total - 10 teams, 135 skaters, 13 goalies
Active 1937 - 6 Top 50, 6 Top 100; 12 Total - 8 teams, 160 skaters, 14 goalies
Active 1947 - 4 Top 50, 8 Top 100; 12 Total - 6 teams, 136 skaters, 10 goalies
Active 1957 - 10 Top 50, 7 Top 100; 17 Total - 6 teams, 137 skaters, 10 goalies
Active 1967 - 13* Top 50, 7 Top 100; 20 Total - 6 teams, 157 skaters, 19 goalies
Active 1977 - 16* Top 50, 3 Top 100; 19 Total - 18+12=30* teams, 449+279=728 skaters, 53+29=82 goalies
Active 1987 - 16* Top 50, 6 Top 100; 22 Total - 21 teams, 620 skaters, 63 goalies
Active 1997 - 15 Top 50, 7 Top 100; 22 Total - 26 teams, 769 skaters, 77 goalies
Active 2007 - 8 Top 50, 4 Top 100; 12 Total - 30 teams, 858 skaters, 84 goalies
Active 2017 - 3 Top 50, 1 Top 100; 4 Total - 30 teams, 888 skaters, 95 goalies
[1917 Montreal Wanderers folded after 6 games, 1977 Minnesota Fighting Saints folded after 42 games]
1917 caveats - used 17-18 as my year instead of 16-17; Cyclone Taylor never played NHL, Sprague Cleghorn injured DNP [counted both anyway]
1927 caveats - Dit Clapper and Charlie Gardiner started to play in 27-28, Georges Vezina died in 1926 [those 3 not included in count]
1937 caveats - none
1947 caveats - Doug Harvey and Red Kelly started to play in 47-48 [not included in count]
1957 caveats - Bobby Hull started to play in 57-58 [not included in count]
1967 caveats - Kharlamov and Firsov were playing in the USSR, Dickie Moore was retired in 66-67, played in 67-68 [all 3 counted]
1977 caveats - Bobby Hull and Frank Mahovlich were playing in the WHA, Kharlamov, Fetisov, Makarov, Tretiak in the USSR [all 6 counted]
1987 caveats - Fetisov and Makarov USSR, Hasek CSSR, Guy Lafleur was retired in 86-87, played in 88-89 [all 4 counted]
1997 caveats - none
2007 caveats - none
2017 caveats - none
Basically the argument I was building about MLB is that if you look at a recent top 100 players list, you really only see 3 or 4 players who played before the NL/AL merger (Honus Wagner, Cy Young, Cap Anson, maybe Deacon White). I was just trying to figure out if the establishment of the NHL was a suitable comparable time frame, or if it should be something different.
I have a few issues with the distribution, but rather than make my arguments I will leave them until the list is completed, and simply just provide the numbers as they are right now.
Edit: Was going back through list and realized Bossy started in 77-78, so he should be under caveats and 1977 Total should be 18.