TradeCentre Debates; who’s the best player in the league today?

For years, Connor McDavid has been considered the best player in the NHL. However, Nathan MacKinnon has been enjoying a career year. Which player should be considered the best in the league? Bruce Boudreau and Marty Biron discuss.

[hockeyhitsheavy]

McDavid is the best player, no doubt. McKinnon is great but this is the only year MacKinnon and McDavid are neck n neck. People in comments are saying McDavid has more skills but not the best player, give me a break. When it comes to winning a cup, it takes a team to win a cup.

[damonwaskahat]

Other players wish they were Connor Mcdavid

[stephenphillips]

MacKinnon has got that extra gear...he gets a little crazy, actually, and does everything he can to win.
My vote is for him.

[clutchingit]

Mackinnon is better all around, but McDavid is the most skilled. The Dog all day everyday for me though.

[hockeyhitsheavy]

When it comes to winning a cup, it takes a team to win a cup. McDavid had 33 points in playoffs in 2021 in 4 games less and MacKinnon had 24. Look at their careers, McDavid now has SEVEN 100 point season. Stats don't lie, you can argue facts. But that doesn't mean going forward MacKinnon can't better himself to be on McDavid's level, he is the only guy who can touch McDavid.

[JBrix]

155 players have played over 3000 minutes the last 3 regular seasons, top 5 P/60 5v5 is #1 MacKinnon #2 Marner #3 Matthews #4 Tkachuk #5 McDavid.
94 have played over 250 minutes in the playoffs, top 5 P/60 5v5 is #1 Draisaitl #2 Marchessault #3 McDavid #4 Eichel #5 Stone. Only 1 player appears in the top 5 in both the regular season and playoffs, Connor McDavid is the NHL's best forward IMO.

[Bob-fdie]

They did such a bad job at representing mcjesus…… I know Nathan and I’m from Halifax. Connor mcdavid is the best player in the world and Nathan has even said it before. Mcdavid has broken more records than any player in the league for the past 30 years and is the pride of Canada. That’s like saying ovi was better than crosbey different country’s and all but we all know Sid is the best in that debate regardless of ovis goals. I love Nates game and some nights he is the best player in the world. We are very lucky to have them both. Bruce can shove it as a Canadian that’s embarrassing lol. He spent to much time playing against mcdavid and getting spanked. Mcdavid is the best player to ever play the game best the great one and maybe Rocket purely because of their accomplishments.

[mirkacz]

We hear this conversation every year. Take a "random" player and compare him to McDavid. People who think that McDavid is not the best player don´t watch enough Oilers games. Or you should listen to other players - even guys like MacKinnon, Matthews are saying McDavid is the best. What are you even trying to accomplish with these conversations?

[maxadams]

You take MacKinnon of you want to win a cup. McDavid ahs more skill but he hasn't shown he's got the dog fight in him like MacKinnon.

[eggstu]

McDavid is the better player in terms of talent and skill. MacKinnon is having the better season. Ridiculous to say McDavid assists make him better this year. Nate had been dominant in all areas, not just passes

[barstar]

With decisions like that it’s no wonder why Bruce isn’t coaching in the NHL right now and instead on a TSN set 😂….97 is by far the best player of this generation

[LeoBond]

MacKinnon. And it's not particularly close either!

[DnaHelacraze]

McDavid is the best player in the league and his all around offensive ability is incredible. However, he's not leagues better than the second or third best. I would argue he's marginally better, but if I were constructing a team it wouldn't be unreasonable to take Mackinnon over McDavid if he's a better fit with our playstyle.

[samgilmore]

Mackinnon has a lot more points than mcdavid 5v5 when it’s much harder to score

[jasonschurek]

Careful TSN - you you don't have Matthews in the conversation.

[FrancoisDesjarlais-le]

McDavid is handed down because it is hard to limit to any one situation. Mackinnon is a more scoring machine, and you can limit him. Where McDavid will always have option.

[rickpapineau]

When the conversation is always: is any other name) better than McDavid, you already have the answer...

It's not even that close...

[KeithMoon]

Id choose MacKinnon for all of the above questions. Both of them beat everyone else in the NHL more times than they'd get beat, but the edge MacKinnon has to his game is the edge that tips the scales when it counts. As yourself, who would you rather lace up the skates to defend? Both of them would beat us every time, but MacKinnon juat goea through people. If you get in his way, youre probably getting hurt, whereas McDavid if you get in his way, no you didnt. In game 7 of the stanley cup playoffs I take that edge every time, and that edge makes up for whatever slight edge in agility people say McDavid has on MacKinnon. Which is by the way non existent. MacKinnon leads the league in 20+ mph bursts and 2nd place isnt even close.

[toorop]

Mackinnon is solid but has he put up 150+ points in a single season?

[hbreaker]

MacKinnon doesn’t even have an mvp to his name