[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

He's only elite when moving the puck through the neutral zone and then cutting to the net. If he's put into a cycle game, he's "merely" a really good player, but probably not even on the level of Gaudreau or some of the other tight space stickhanders out there, or elite shooters like Petterson, Monahan, Scheifele, etc. If you funnel him to the boards, don't both following him around the net, and clog the slot when he goes behind the net, he can be contained. Will he throw one to the middle that goes in? Sure, maybe, like last night. But give him his assist (and second star) and score more than a couple goals, you beat Edmonton.

Originally Posted by Hemi-Cuda

I've noticed that too, off the rush McDavid is probably the most dangerous player in the league, but in the cycle he's far less noticeable. Way less dominant along the boards than Crosby, and he doesn't have that heavy shot from the circle you need to worry about like with Ovechkin. I actually wonder how effective he'll be down the road, as he relies on his speed so much and that's the first thing to go as players get older

This. Take away McDavid’s speed through the neutral zone, and he is no scarier (in fact less scary) than many stars on other teams. Teams are learning this, and because the Oilers have nothing else, McDavid is containable. More and more teams are focussing on speed too - so the speed differential between McDavid and the opposition becomes less and less.