Colorado Avalanche superstar Nathan MacKinnon proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that he’s the NHL’s best player.
The typical consensus is that Connor McDavid, the Edmonton Oilers captain, is the best player in the world. There’s certainly validity to that claim. McDavid has multiple Hart Trophies, scoring titles, and one Conn Smythe.
So, does MacKinnon. He's got all the requisite hardware a player needs to be an all-time legend. But there’s one thing MacKinnon has that McDavid doesn’t: A Stanley Cup. That Stanley Cup came on the heels of a feat that McDavid has been unable to do. MacKinnon’s 2022 Avalanche knocked off the defending Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning.
Fast-forward to November 8, and the Avalanche’s 9-1 demolition of the Oilers at Rogers Place left little doubt that Nathan MacKinnon is the NHL’s best player.
MacKinnon ended the night with four points. He scored two goals, including a fantastic one coming out of the penalty box. MacKinnon ended the night with six shots on goal in just under 20 minutes of ice time. That was more than enough time to terrorize the Oilers on Saturday night.
Meanwhile, McDavid got the Oilers’ lone goal on the night. Sure, he saved face for the team. But he was unable to carry the club against a potent Avalanche squad. Unlike MacKinnon, McDavid could not rally his troops and get back into the game.
All told, McDavid ended the night with a power play goal and a minus-3 rating. He skated for a little over 19 minutes, getting four shots on goal.
That comparison in a single game shows why MacKinnon and the Avalanche are closer to the Stanley Cup than McDavid and the Oilers.
Yes, there will still be plenty of analysts out there doubling down on McDavid as the NHL’s best. And they have a solid argument. McDavid is the sort of player that doesn’t come around very often. But when looking at how MacKinnon and McDavid went head-to-head, it was clear that MacKinnon has a decisive edge over McDavid.