Who's the best player in the league?

[Makaramel MacKhiato]

Simple question. 
This year we saw 14 players hit over 90 points (remember Benn won the Art Ross with 87 points a few years ago)... McDavid is the choice a lot will make, but there are others who make a strong case for the title. 

[ReggieBush]

McDavid and its really not that close

[Jaku]

Connor McDavid. He's the most dynamic offensive player in the league. If he had the same support as someone like Kucherov he would have had more points than him.

[JM_]

16 minutes ago, ReggieBush said:

McDavid and its really not that close

in which categories tho? he might be the best scoring F, but he's not the best centre on a number of fronts. Crosby is a better all-around player still, imo. 

 

 

Edited April 20, 2019 by Jimmy McGill

[MikeyBoy44]

17 minutes ago, Jimmy McGill said:

in which categories tho? he might be the best scoring F, but he's not the best centre on a number of fronts. Crosby is a better all-around player still, imo. 

 

 

Kind of like the Gretzky/ Lemieux debate. 

[Elias Pettersson]

Right now, this minute, Nathan MacKinnon...

[Rick Blight]

26 minutes ago, Elias Pettersson said:

Right now, this minute, Nathan MacKinnon...

MacKinnon is the best "value" for his contract..........and not even close.

[Zhukini]

I'd take MacKinnon as my first line game 7 centre over McDavid right now. 

 

If they were all 18 and you wanted to start a franchise, its Crosby 11/10 times

[DS4quality]

Crosby should have been nominated for a selke. He's consistently a top scorer who makes everyone around him better

[Phil_314]

32 minutes ago, DS4quality said:

Crosby should have been nominated for a selke. He's consistently a top scorer who makes everyone around him better

This.  Guys like Kunitz, Dupuis and even Jared McCann have benefited from playing with 87, plus he has more of a two-way game.
Connor, for all his individual talent, likely isn't on the same level in that regard.  Sure, he's played with Leon and Nuge at times and it's worked, but their other winger has always been a problem, including now where it's a revolving door of Puljujarvi and others.  

Edited April 20, 2019 by Phil_314

[the grinder]

right now  it either mackinnon or ovie   both are fast strong on the puck  and ovie hits like a truck  as this years playoffs proves it doesn't matter what you do in the regular season its what u do in the playoffs that matters 

[ktcy2]

I used to think Mcdavid 

but seeing the Avs in these playoffs....... it’s Mackinnon 

[Coconuts]

This is always a tough question to answer because what defines "Best" is going to be different for everyone and some players are going to be the best at some things while others are best at the others. Is McDavid a better goalscorer than Ovechkin? Nah. Is he a better defensive player than Bergeron? Nah. Is he the best well rounded player? Nah. Is he the best pure offensive player? Maybe, but MacKinnon's in that conversation too being one year older and so is Kucherov. 

 

Best overall player? For me it'd still be Crosby right now. 

[greenbean30]

Crosby. He’s the best all around player in the game. And he’s constantly been with guys on his line who are not first line players that he makes look like first liners.

After Crosby its between McDavid and MacKinnon for me. I’d probably take Mac just because of his size and he can play the physical game, like he’s showing in these playoffs.

Edited April 20, 2019 by greenbean30

[86Viking]

Cant be McSaviour, he cant even get his team in the playoffs. He is a great offensive threat, have no idea if he is relied on to be a top pk player for the coil tho. Watching these playoffs I gotta say MacKinnon has bee unreal to watch, his motor just never stops. almost half the price of McSaviour too haha! If Colorado can get consistant #1 goaltending they could be a good team for a long time

[xereau]

Marner should be in the discussion.  As a winger, he is the main driver of the play.  He is the guy that made Marleau look so good last year.  He is the guy that has made Tavares look so good this year. As a winger?  This is remarkable.  On top of the driving the play, he kills penalties.  Very well.

[Master Mind]

It's gotta be Pouliot.

[Fanuck]

MacKinnon is great player playing exceptionally right now.   McDavid is a great player who regularly just plays good whether it's because of disinterest or linemates who knows?   Crosby is already a 100% guaranteed first ballot hall of famer even if he never played another game in the NHL again.  

 

 

[BlueDragon23]

Sid for now. He’s still the best all around player because he knows how to play defence and he hustles on the back-check. And his accomplishments speak enough. 

McDavid may be faster and more skilled, but He’s got a ways to go to catch Sid.

 

Could see MacKinnon surpassing Sid eventually.  

[Dekey Pete]

2 hours ago, xereau said:

Marner should be in the discussion.  As a winger, he is the main driver of the play.  He is the guy that made Marleau look so good last year.  He is the guy that has made Tavares look so good this year. As a winger?  This is remarkable.  On top of the driving the play, he kills penalties.  Very well.