With only weeks left in the regular season, the race for the Hart Trophy is heating up with Connor McDavid currently sitting atop the list of points leaders and Nikita Kucherov following closely behind. Which of the two players are the best in the NHL right now? Bryan Hayes joins Glenn Schiller in the Domino’s That’s Hockey studio to share his thoughts.
@Tampa Bay Lightning
37 Comments
MC David is the best, no doubt about that ! ❤❤❤🎉
Kuch is an incredible player, but it’s mcdavid and frankly,it’s not even close
Absolutely clueless if you think Kucherov is better than McDavid. Probably the same sandbaggers saying a few months ago MacKinnon was the best. Watch them play on their respective teams and its absolutely not even close
It's McDavid. It's ALWAYS McDavid.
Kuch
Kucherov
Celebrini.
Kuchy
Kuch has been the better player for quite awhile. Three years at least. These comments are quite funny. McDavid used to be better, now, no. Kuch has gotten better over the last 5 years to become on par with a generational talent. As Kuchs hockey IQ is generational, that aspect of his game allows him to put up points at a unprecedented pace. Gretzky compared Kuches play to himself. Who are we to argue with the great one?
Last three years Kuch beats McDavid in almost every metric, PPG, Points, awards, PP60 you name it. Going on three Rosses in a row, how can you argue with that? By the numbers Kuch is the better player over the last three years. Before that McDavid was, but not always. Kuch is the only player to beat McDavid straight up for a scoring title. And he did it three times going on four. Right now its Kuch, you need some heavy mental gymnastics to say other wise to pick McDavid over Kuch.
Crosby and Mac watch Kuch play. Mac studies his game as does Kane. Kuch is your favorite player, favorite player. Notice not one comment said why they think McDavid is better, just that "McDavid is the best" with zero thought behind why they think that is. Such brain dead comments on here. Delusional more like it.
Everyone who's taking two time cup winner over two time finals loser knows what he's doing.
Both legendary players. Can’t go wrong with either.
Love kucherov but mcdavid is best offensive player ever
Finally cups matter
I'm a big McDavid fan, watch all the Oilers games since 2020… watched so many Lightning games back in the day and also on their cup runs and many regular season games.
Couple years ago I'd said McDavid around 2023 and prior… BUT! Nowadays he can't win, carry games when it matters so how can you pick him Hayes when Kuch has proven he can win?
Also McDavid is always gonna be picked simply based on his skating and speed but past 2 years he does so many bad passes, predictable passes all the time, never shoots, does lots of bad plays and lots of his points come from the Powerplay cuz everyone gives him the puck so he always get easy assists. Kuch is literally carrying on his own, no Draisaitls, has god IQ, can one-timer…which McDavid can't do still 10 years into the league and he knows when to pass or shoot which McD can't. 3/3 final losses in 3 years too for McDavid, I gotta go with Kucherov even if he doesn't have the most wow moment gameplay. If you compare highlight reels vs reels McDavid wins easily but anyone who watches the game can see McDavid's regression as a smart player.
McDavid, but the topic is valid, if someone said they rather have a Kucherov than a McDavid in their team… I wouldnt call him nuts. I wouldnt agree, but its not like a "loss".
I give the edge to kuch right now
Unquestionably two of the three best players in the world right now (the third would be MacKinnon). They're both amazing and they both routinely make things that are actually incredibly hard to do look easy.
But McDavid is in a separate class above everyone else. His combination of speed, agility, hands, hockey sense and playmaking allow him to control shifts like no other player since Mario Lemieux.
He has more Art Ross Trophies than Kucherov, despite less time in the league, more Hart Trophies, he's had a 60-goal season, which Kucherov does not have, McDavid has more overall points and in fewer games.
I don't know who the better defensive player is, but I don't think either of their defensive games offset the other player's offensive abilities. Since McDavid is the better offensive player among the two forwards, I would pick McDavid.
Weren’t they just comparing Makinnion two months ago? McDavid is the best analysts just need viewers so the do these “comparisons”
The question is best player. It’s a 200 foot game where +/-, EVG v. PPG, goals and primary assist (as opposed to secondary) and winning matter. Looking at the totality is like looking at McDavid dogging it on the gold medal goal, and that was unambiguous.
McDavid has 7 more GP than Kuch and 3 more than MacKinnon. McDavid has a lower P/GP than both and his stats are inflated by PPP as you would expect playing with Draisaitl. When the officials swallow their whistles in post-season that is where you really see differences.
So is McDavid really the “best player” on the planet?
The one with the cups. You don’t see Kucherov playing hero puck and trying to go 1 on 3 multiple times, turning it over and losing the biggest games.
Kucherov ❤
Kucherov, MacKinnon, Draisital Makar are elite at their positions and are definitely above the rest of them, but mcdavid is just another level.
Kutch is barely top 5 bruh
Kucherov makes everyone else around him play better, which makes him more valuable. McDavid shines by himself.
Le mellieur nikita kucherov
Kucherov
And so a personal meeting took place without Draisaitl's intervention and we saw who was better.
Having watched the Oilers-Lightning game today I don't need to comment on this subject
Соснёт Макдэвид)))
To find out how good Mac David is, you need to remove Draisaitl from him and see what Mac David's results will be after that. Kucherov has played well with different partners in his NHL career.
McDavid, Kucherov and McKinnon.
No doubt Mcdavid simply because he is Canadian 😂
Theres a difference between being a great player on a great time with great players, and being a great player on a badly organized team with only 1 or 2 other good players.
Who’s the best player on the planet, McKinnon or Kucherov? But not McDavid
Messi vs Ronaldo. Who would you rather have?
Mcdavid is great but it seems like he will not win anything
Kucherov has not only played 7 fewer games but plays in a much stingier division he's significantly better and I think we saw that with the Oilers Tampa game last night