While it's great that McDavid can make a guy like Maroon a 30 goal scorer, the problem in a cap world is that, if he is constantly having to do that, the advantage of his superior skill is mitigated.
Comparing Gaudreau and Monahan, two great players, to McDavid, a generational player, plus a plug, evens things out. And the numbers quoted before bare that out. Going by memory (because it's a couple pages back) each pair got roughly 150 pts or whatever.
And that's why the cap is awesome. You draft a generational player? Great! Now you have to pay him $12.5M, so that costs you the equivalent of 2 great players. Evens things out.
And that's why so many people keep saying that simply getting a player like McDavid on your team, no longer means automatic cups. Because the cap is the great equalizer.
Chicago lucked out in their timing by getting a great core of players, and getting several of them signed to back-diving contracts, then having the rules even out the playing field for everyone else.
It will be a lot tougher going forward.
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