from Greg Wyshynski of ESPN,

Our default setting as hockey fans is that Sidney Crosby's "Best Hockey Player In The World" crown has been passed onto the head of Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers, a freak of nature who scores at will and makes plays at a tempo unmatched in NHL history.

But what if the crown remains in Cole Harbour. Nova Scotia, on the head of its second favorite son next to Crosby, Nathan MacKinnon?

Let's first agree that McDavid's offensive prowess is superhuman. He's scored 321 points in his last 224 games since 2017-18, for a points-per-game average of 1.43, leading the NHL in both categories. Of that total, 219 came at even strength, also an NHL best. MacKinnon was third in points (289 in 225 games), points per game (1.28) and was sixth in even-strength points (188). Advantage: McDavid.

But defensively, MacKinnon has the advantage. Evolving Hockey's metrics give him the nod in expected defensive goals above replacement and expected defense, which combines that metric with shorthanded defense per 60 minutes. Over a three-season span in the latter category, MacKinnon was at a minus-0.03 and McDavid was at minus-0.18. But the gap was considerable this season: MacKinnon was just on the plus side of the metric (0.03) while McDavid was not (minus-0.22). Advantage: MacKinnon.

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