Although it doesn't happen often, it does take place enough to irritate me. One of the funniest debates in sports right now is whether Connor McDavid is still the NHL's best player. It's like trying to make the case that Patrick Mahomes isn't the NFL's best quarterback—it's a discussion that only takes place because people enjoy a good talking point and people get tired of seeing them do whatever they want on the field or ice. While there are other outstanding players in the league, such as Nikita Kucherov, Cale Makar, and Nathan MacKinnon, the truth is that nobody is better than Connor McDavid right now.
Let's be clear now: team success is not the point of this. To their credit, MacKinnon, Makar, and Kucherov do have championships on their resume. It's amazing what these guys have accomplished. You may begin to see things differently, though, if you look at the depth on those championship-winning rosters more closely. I guarantee that if McDavid is added to either of those teams in place of MacKinnon or Kucherov, we're not just talking about a Cup contender—we're talking about a dynasty.
These players are all top-tier and have established themselves, so this is not meant to diminish them, because let's be honest, McDavid I bet you would trade all the awards he has won throughout his career for what those three have in common, being called a Stanley Cup Champion. The argument may continue, but McDavid is unmatched in terms of skill and impact alone. It will require a team effort from Oilers from him to get that get championship, which is the only reason people have can try to have this debate. But even without one, it is just hilarious to me when people try to argue that McDavid isn't the best player in hockey.
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