ESPN's latest rankings undervalue Connor McDavid's athletic legacy
Photo credit: Heavy Hockey Network
Connor McDavid is shaping up to be one of the all-time greats in the NHL. But it's frustrating when you see ESPN and their Top 100 Players in Sports of the 21st century list—they ranked McDavid 98th.
The best player on the planet at the hardest sport in the world barely cracks the top 100.
Who are the 100 greatest athletes of the 21st century? 🤔
Presenting ESPN Top 100, a list of athletes across sports voted on by ESPN experts.
Presenting ESPN Top 100, a list of athletes across sports voted on by ESPN experts.
They claim it's based on over 70,000 votes, but it still feels like a blasphemy. McDavid hasn't lifted the Stanley Cup yet, but his numbers speak volumes, and so does his playoff performance worthy of Conn Smythe trophy honors. Despite the Game 7 defeat to the championed Florida Panthers, they wouldn't have climbed the 0-3 series hole without him.
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The three time Hart trophy winner has nearly 1,000 points in just 645 games. He also has five Art Ross Trophies as the league's leading point getter and his 42 points in this year's playoffs was in the top 5 all-time.
ESPN Ranked Alex Ovechkin over Connor McDavid in their top 100 athletes. On what grounds? The dude has made a career quite literally standing in the same spot. McDavid is actually the best and possibly fastest hockey player in the world.
He's only 27 and has many years ahead of him still to come. This list doesn't appreciate how good he's become so fast. We don't expect them to project what's coming and understand this is across various sports, but do ask for age to be taken into consideration.
Pat McAfee nukes ESPN's recent list of their Top 100 athletes of the 2000s... on ESPN!
"It is the epitome of everything that everybody hates about ESPN.
"It is the epitome of everything that everybody hates about ESPN.
As for other NHL legacies, Alex Ovechkin was at 54, and we all know Sidney Crosby will be way up there too when the top 50 are released. Yet, McDavid deserves more respect than that. If he keeps going at this rate, he'll rewrite the record books and prove everyone wrong who doubted him on this list.
| POLL | ||
16 JUILLET | 104 ANSWERS ESPN's latest rankings undervalue Connor McDavid's athletic legacy What is your reaction to ESPN ranking Connor McDavid 98th on their Top 100 Players in Sports of the 21st Century list? | ||
| Understood | 16 | 15.4 % |
| Disappointed | 66 | 63.5 % |
| He was ranked higher than i thought | 22 | 21.2 % |
| LIST OF POLLS | ||
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