Which NHL Superstar is the Best Option to Build a team around?
Through two games of the Western Conference Finals one thing remains certain (aside from maybe the Oilers should have picked up another goalie): Connor McDavid and Cale Makar are the two best players at their respective positions and arguably the best two players in the league.
While not every team is fortunate enough to land a star of their caliber, let's pretend you are in charge of building your franchise and have the option of building around ONE of these two franchise cornerstones.
It is certainly a tough debate, on one hand McDavid is having one of the best postseasons ever, putting up numbers not seen since the Great One himself Wayne Gretzky was on the Oilers, with 29 points in 14 games. While on the other Makar has 17 points in 12 games playing just under 27 minutes per night with 26:41 ATOI. Both are in the running for a Conn Smythe Trophy at this point of the playoffs but lets take a look at each of their careers so far before choosing who to build around.
Connor McDavid
The four time Art Ross winner, three time Ted Lindsay winner, and two time Hart Trophy winner Connor McDavid, 25 year - old phenom is also nominated for another Hart and Ted Lindsay this year.
Coming off of career highs in almost every statistical category, McDavid finished this season with 41 goals, 79 assists, and 123 points in only 80 games. Almost as impressive as his previous season where he finished with nearly a 2.0 points per game average racking up 105 points in only 56 games. The legend in the making has never finished a season averaging below a point per game, with his worst season being his rookie year (which was unfortunately cut short due to injury) with 48 points in 45 games (1.07 points per game). With a career average of 1.43 points per game his 239 career goals and 458 assists add up to 698 points. His other worldly speed, elite Hockey IQ, insane stick handling skills, quick release, elite edgework, exceptional vision, and the sensational ability to do it all at full speed makes him a threat to embarrass the opposition every shift. He pairs all of that with some size as well coming in at 6'1" 193 lbs. He is quite literally a player you would create in a video game to abuse the CPU, except his does it all in real life. He also boast an impressive playoff performance of 51 points in 35 career playoff games for a 1.46 points per game average. He's virtually unstoppable and has willed the Edmonton Oilers through two playoff rounds so far this season. Safe to say he is one of the best to ever do it and already has a highlight reel impressive enough to span multiple careers.
Cale Makar
Making his NHL debut in the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Makar recorded 6 points in 10 games averaging 17:22 TOI before going on to win the Calder Trophy as the leagues top rookie the following season. As a defenseman, only finishing below a point per game average ONCE so far in his career as a rookie Cale Makar is just as other worldly as McDavid. His rookie year he recorded 50 points in 57 games before. He followed that up with 44 points in 44 games in his sophomore season and set career highs in goals assists and points this season. The 23 year - old's 28 goals, 58 assists, and 86 points in 77 games with a plus/minus of +48 was enough to earn him a nomination for the Norris Trophy as the league's top defenseman. With a career average of 1.01 points per game and 23:50 ATOI, and never averaging lower than 21 minutes a night in his career, Makar is doing it all against the oppositions best. His elite skating, edge work, passing vision, hockey IQ, and superb stick handling and puck protection make him a fourth forward on the ice offensively as well as being able to match up against team's top forwards. He brings a video game like ability to real life just as McDavid does with stunning highlight after highlight.
Its hard to decide which of the two is the better choice to build your team around, but you certainly can not go wrong with either. Some might lean Makar just because he is slightly younger, only in his third pro season, and is only getting better. But McDavid is doing things no one has seen since Gretzky played, and seems literally unstoppable. I'd personally lean towards Makar if I was building mine, but I really don't think there is a wrong answer here. Possibly the next GOAT forward or the next GOAT defenseman? One thing is for certain both of these players have the skill sets and ceiling to change the way the game is played. Who would you choose to build your team around? Let me know in the comments and by participating in the pole below!
| POLL | ||
If you were starting a team which one would you build around? | ||
| Easy McDavid, the best player since Gretzky. | 38 | 30.9 % |
| Easy Makar, the next gen Bobby Orr. | 35 | 28.5 % |
| Can't go wrong with either! | 50 | 40.7 % |
| List of polls | ||
