BY EVAN PEASLEE – FAN FUEL BLOGGER
Connor McDavid being added to the OHL roster for the 2012 Super Series is a true barometer of how talented this 15-year-old is. But before we start going overboard with the praise and media hype for this young man (which is already at its tipping point now thanks to the NHL lockout) let’s put some things into perspective before we induct him into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
First and foremost this kid is talented, really talented, and he was definitely deserving of his exceptional player status that granted him early acceptance into the OHL. But he should remind no one of Sidney Crosby. He may however, remind us of John Tavares.
Sid the Kid, or as he was known then, “The Next One,” had a whopping 32 points in his first 15 games as a 16-year-old.
While McDavid has a meager 18 in comparison. Crosby had almost as many goals (16) as the young Erie Otters forward has points.
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Sure, Crosby was a year older, but he was only 150 days older than McDavid when he played his first game at junior. And frankly, five months from now McDavid will not look like a rookie about to win his first of back-to-back CHL Player of the Year awards.
So let’s put that comparison to bed right now.
The Newmarket, Ont. native is extremely talented, but he barely holds a candle to the man from Cole Harbour, NS.
So let’s put something a little more realistic on the table; John Tavares. Tavares was the first player to be granted exceptional player status, and although Aaron Ekblad is a solid stay-at-home defenceman, he doesn’t scream “exceptional”, and it really should be just Tavares and McDavid that share that honour.
But I digress.
Nevertheless, Tavares put up 23 points in his first 15 games as 15-year-old. He cruised to the CHL Rookie of the Year award with 77 points, and the rest is history.
McDavid is on pace for almost exactly Tavares’ totals. Although he’ll have more assists and less goals just because of the type of player he is.
The Otters forward will likely easily get an OHL Rookie of the Year title, have a chance at the CHL award, and will have a very solid first-year campaign that mirrors Tavares’.
He probably even skates better than Tavares, and is more of a two-way player. Especially at 15-years-old.
However, Tavares won CHL Player of the Year as a 16-year-old, played in the Super Series (then titled the Canada-Russia Challenge), and has become a very talented NHLer.
But as we can all agree, Tavares isn’t Crosby, far from it. And neither is McDavid.
Certainly some of the media attention is well deserved, but let’s stop crowning this kid and throwing ridiculous comparisons and future accolades his way.
It’s been 15 games for goodness sakes.
And while he may be the first 15-year-old to play in the Super Series, this doesn’t make him the next Crosby, or Gretzky, or even Tavares for that matter.
Let’s just be content with him being the first McDavid, and leave it at that.
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