Is Connor McDavid Better Than Wayne Gretzky?
By Jason Bolton June 25, 2024 22:13
Photo by Andy Devlin / NHLI via Getty Images
Wayne Gretzky
From the stats released, Wayne Gretzky is considered one of the greatest players ever to play in the NHL, but he did much more than just set and break records.
Throughout his NHL career, Gretzky accrued an incredible 2,857 points in 1,487 games and remains the record holder for both career goals, assists, and points.
He won four Stanley Cups and nine Hart Trophies as league MVP while playing for the Edmonton Oilers.
Connor McDavid
Connor McDavid is one of NHL's brightest stars. His unique blend of blazing speed and deadly agility has enabled him to transcend the game. In back-to-back seasons, he finished with a league-best in points and earned two Art Ross Trophies. With such an illustrious career, Connor McDavid's net worth has also soared, reflecting his success and impact on the sport.
Comparison
While Gretzky's scoring prowess may never be matched, McDavid has done enough to at least earn himself the contemporary label of icon in today's fast-moving NHL.
Playstyles and Skillsets
Wayne Gretzky
Gretzky's incomparable hockey brain and ability to create offense distinguished him as one of the greats. His puck vision and elite passing made him very easy to scout.
This allowed him to see plays coming and slow the game down to its speed, earning him the nickname "The Great One."
Connor McDavid
On the other hand, McDavid's top-end speed and puck-possession abilities changed the entire outlook of how the game is played today. The ease with which he dances through traffic and generates necessary offense has proven a formidable foe.
Comparison
Gretzky was the master of understanding the game better than anyone else. Still, McDavid has transcended with his speed and agility, which are not comparable to any other on the ice and require a different level of dominance.
Legacy and Impact
Wayne Gretzky
Gretzky's legacy in hockey transcends his accomplishments where the ice meets the wood. To this day, no one has matched his role in growing the game in non-traditional markets and with younger players.
His hockey ambassadorship and the numerous ways he helped grow the game globally will surely leave an enduring legacy throughout the NHL.
Connor McDavid
McDavid changed the sport, exposing how it had become faster and more about skill than brute strength. The Oilers star scored from all over the ice. He artfully plays against himself and has given the next generation of players their playing styles, thus further dictating the future of tennis.
As a result, the hockey careers and skills of Connor McDavid and Wayne Gretzky are rather delicate to make. While Gretzky's records and thinking of the game will never be touched, McDavid's speed and skill changed the modern game. However, whether or not McDavid can be considered "better" than Gretzky is up for interpretation and based on how individuals compare the two. Both have shaped the sport and added evolutionary facets to it in ways unique to the individual player.
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