The case for Nathan MacKinnon as the NHL’s best center

For the second year in a row, NHL.com ranked Nathan MacKinnon as the league’s second-best center. The Edmonton Oilers’ Connor McDavid took the top spot with the Toronto Maple Leafs’ Auston Matthews ranking third.

Now, there could be a case for either three to be the NHL’s top center. But there’s a stronger case for MacKinnon to be number one than McDavid or Matthews.

Let’s look at the pure offensive numbers. MacKinnon finished the season with video game-like numbers: 51 goals and 89 assists for 140 points. That point total landed him second behind the Tampa Bay Lightning’s Nikita Kucherov for the league lead.

Meanwhile, McDavid finished behind MacKinnon with an impressive 132 points. It must be said that McDavid accomplished a remarkable feat last season by notching 100 assists. However, that feat, like Matthews’ 69 goals, was not enough to sway voters in the Hart Trophy race.

MacKinnon took home the Hart and the Ted Lindsay Awards.

That alone points toward MacKinnon having an edge over McDavid. Moreover, MacKinnon has been consistently good. He’s notched back-to-back 100-point seasons, while seemingly improving his game every season.

Of course, critics would likely point out that McDavid has more 100-point seasons, several Art Ross Trophies, and multiple Hart Trophies. But there’s one thing Nathan MacKinnon has that McDavid doesn’t: A Stanley Cup ring.

That deciding factor weighs heavily when assessing a player’s overall impact on his team and the league as a whole.

Making a Case for Nathan MacKinnon’s beyond the Numbers

Here’s where things get truly subjective. What MacKinnon brings to the table is far greater than what McDavid does.

Sure, McDavid is the Oilers’ captain. But McDavid has the benefit of Leon Draisaitl. It’s Draisaitl that supports McDavid when the heat comes down on him.

As for MacKinnon, it’s quite the opposite.

When Gabe Landeskog went down following the Colorado Avalanche’s 2022 Cup run, it was MacKinnon who picked up the torch and led the team.

Moreover, the only reason why MacKinnon hasn’t been anointed captain is because Landeskog figures to make a comeback this offseason. But surely enough, when Landeskog calls it quits (or leaves the Avs), the automatic choice for captain will be MacKinnon.

In the meantime, MacKinnon is the de facto captain, willing the Avs into dangerous waters. Sure, McDavid’s supporters could underscore the fact that McDavid won the Conn Smythe last year even though he was on the losing team.

Regardless, the Conn Smythe is not a Stanley Cup. At the end of the day, McDavid and Oilers fans would trade all the individual awards out there for a Cup ring.

Ultimately, MacKinnon and McDavid are generational talents. They deserve to be neck-and-neck in the race as the league’s best centers. While Auston Matthews is quietly nipping at their heels, the numbers and the eye test show that Nathan MacKinnon has a legitimate claim as the league’s top center.

Hopefully, MacKinnon can back my claims up with another Cup ring.