I wouldn't say I agree but I gotta admit statistically they were near identical. That definitely cannot be said about other lines throughout Soviet history so it wasn't the system producing it.
Think of someone like Draisaitl who would however routinely outscore McDavid. Would it be fair to say he is vastly inferior just because his game doesn't look as impressive?
Statistically, since the lockout, John Carlson and Victor Hedman are near equal. Drew Doughty and Keith Yandle, etc. is there any doubt about which way you would go?
I don't need flash to call a player better. I need contribution to the positive, to say it in a certain way. Otherwise, I'd have Rick Middleton and Alexei Kovalev over so many other players...
But just as a faux exercise...wipe the ages clean even, forget about the age, forget about contracts. The stats still happened. Scout the NHL as if there was a draft at the end of the season.
Do you consider, even for a second, taking Draisaitl over McDavid?
I certainly don't. And I don't want to go too far down the road on this because it would distract from a way,
way more interesting thread...but Drai isn't on my shortlist for potential #1 picks. Or if McDavid is untouchable, he's not on my list for potential #2 picks either.
Now, that's not the be-all, end-all...players accomplish things statistically or they win awards (or are gifted awards)...they win championships...etc. that all has value too...But if you lean too far on statistics when you're in trouble, then what's the point of debating anything? Just sort by points or gin up some formula and call it a day.
But, of course, almost no one would want that, almost no one would agree with what that produces...so, where can you go? You gotta go back to talent evaluation to figure it out.