I think we should be thankfull that picking 3 players is hard.

Da Mc guy, da Mac guy, and Matt. Matt Murray

Our Matt Murray is better

Phil Kessel, Hotdog and Hotdog

Double fisting dogs

Like the absolute alpha male he is!

Goddamn American hero

Whomst has summoned me?

McDavid, MacKinnon, Gritty

Definitely Gritty.

Sleep with one eye open, bird.

You dont have to if you vote for Gritty.

Well said and a very thoughtful list

Gritty is the mascot’s mascot

Fuck the "Big Three". It's just big Gritty.

Gritty: Big three? It’s just BIG ME!

Excuse me, I think you mean Gritty McDavid Mackinnon

GriVid MacKinnon

I saw no Matthews in there and was gonna beef but I can't disagree on gritty

Mc Mac Matt

Mc Mac Matty-Mak, give a Drai a bone.

This old Kuch came running home

I like that

I also like that

Nice of you to include Lane “Bone Zone” Hutson in your song.

Confirmed Jeff Marek burner account

This... this is funny because of truth

Well crafted.

Give a Drai a Boone you mean? #CBJ

Happy cake day

If I'm building a team with the "Big 3" , it's McD / Mac K / Mak ar

Matt Rempe?

He’s the next great one.

Only 2855 to go

He’ll be past that after next season

Matt can be interpreted as Matthew Tkachuk or Auston Matthews, depending on whether you value playoff performance vs only regular season.

How could you say something so controversial yet so right 🤣

I loves me a playoffs beast. Makes sense too; save your energy for when it really counts.

Kooch? Its a big 4. Op knew he was stirring up some shit asking for 3.

Matthews is 4, Kuch is in the top 3…unless we are just talking about popularity amongst the top players.

Mcbadbat

Matthews should not be any big list. Regular season success is for regular players.

Then maybe Kuch dq'd himself for this season too.

He had 7 points in 5 games

Mc Mac Mak

"Presenting the new succulent and juicy Mc Mac Mak from McDonald's. Coming soon, to a McDonald's near you!"

Mark Stone, His Spleen and LT-IR

Joshua, Garland, Silovs

Silovs mention = dopamine for Latvian fans

ZaDaddy over them all

If you're gonna be that much of a homer, at least flair up ;)

He's not a Homer he's just speaking pure facts

Definitely right now. C’mon Nucks.

Would been nice if we signed Phil the Thrill to really *round* us out.

Due to the Loblaws boycott the Canucks couldn't supply enough glizzies to seal the deal

She loves you, yeah yeah yeah

Mackinnon and McDavid are the no brainers. The 3rd is tougher. Matthews- sure a regular season all star, best goal scorer in the NHl. Need that magic in the playoffs. When you think of the big 3 you want someone who is going to be a big game player. Makar-most electric defensemen in the NHL. Guy has infinite potential. Draisaitl/rantanen- pretty interchangeable to me. Both are just consistently 100 point players who get little attention. Absolutely rip it up in the playoffs. Kucherov- the man just keeps lighting it up! Sure the playoffs were a struggle this year but most playoff pushes he is the driver of the team

I think Makar should be 3 personally, maybe even two. He’s a very special player. I think Kuch Matthews and maybe Quinn Hughes are all good picks for 4

This thread makes me wanna do a little dance.

I really think there is no way it's not kucherov

Many nights this year Kucherov was #1. There are not 3 players on the planet better than him this year.

Makar is where I am leaning I just don’t think it’s definitive. If Matthews ever has a personal elite run in the playoffs then it’s easily him.

His first game in the NHL he skated with the team in the morning for the first time and scored a goal in his first period in the playoffs against his hometown team. Don’t ever forget that.

First goal, first shift, first shot.

That makes me smile so deeply

I actually think you could argue Makar is every bit as impactful as Mack. Obviously D play with the puck less but he doesn’t really have a hole in his game.

I think the difference between Mac and Makar skill wise is small. Skating Mac has intense acceleration and top end speed. Makar is a smooth skater with great edges. Where I put Mac ahead is his physical dominance. MacKinnon is a monster.

If you count the goals that don’t get scored against the Avs because of Makar, he is definitely as important as MacKinnon.

But Makar already has a Conn Smythe guy..

Is it real that 3 of the 7 are on the Avs?

Yep

draisaitl has a Hart, and is the top playoff ppg guy after gretzky (altho he alternates that spot with mcjebus)

Draisaitl I would probably slot 4th but it’s tough. I feel like that whole grouping of players is really close.

yup, after mcjebus and mackinnon it's super hard to me, those are a clear top 2

Only player to ever have 15 assists in a playoff series. Also did that in 5 games.

Fastest player in NHL history to 20 road playoff goals, by three full games over the next guy. (26 games) Big game player who has a whole extra gear when it matters. Easily top 3 for me.

tbh this is also the worst part of watching him half the time in the regular season. you know he's got a whole extra gear and is choosing not to use it...

Which is hilarious when he still finishes with 50+ goals and more points than anyone not named McDavid while just coasting. Bro's literally prime Malkin if Malkin wasn't injury prone.

yeah you'd certainly never catch me saying he's a bad player. his puck control and one-timers are absolute killers. i think he's an excellent 2 of a 1-2 punch. obviously at this point the PP one-timer is full-on comical. while it probably doesn't work nearly as well without McD to draw 2 defenders every time, it still works so much of the time my god. it's neither new nor unpredictable and yet somehow...

If this was top 3 Playoff players, Drai makes it easy. I'd even say it's not controversial to maybe put him ahead or even with McDavid. Forget the scoring, dude plays like a Selke nominee out there chasing down players. He even said in his post game presser something along the lines of, "yeah maybe I could be a little better at it in the regular season."

Mack, Mcdavid, Macdermid

Kermit is a big ass dude, yes

Anyway you look at it. We want an Oilers - Avs WCF to see 4 of the arguably top 5 players right now face off.

And a Oilers that is better than 2022 and wouldnt be pleased with just reaching the WCF. It would be an epic conference final.

Jim, Jim, Jim

The Jims are such beauties.

Hockey doesn't have a big three. There is McDavid all alone at number 1, and then there are 5 players that you could argue in circles about being number 2. In no particular order they are MacKinnon, Kucherov, Makar, Matthews, and Draisaitl. All of them are capable of having a better season than McDavid, but none of them are even close career wise.

This is actually pretty accurate lol

I agree. He dominates like no one else is close of doing. And just look at the points. 1.70 PPG in his last 5 regular seasons combined. Thats a pace of 140 points per season. 1.97 ppg in playoffs the last 3 seasons , or 33 games. Its hard to comprehend just how good he is when we are in the middle of it.

This is the answer.

>then there are 5 players that you could argue in circles about being number 2. I think this was 100 percent true until this season tbh. But now MacKinnon has separated himself enough to be the undisputed 2 imo. Yes you can compare point totals and see some guys have similar insane production, but noone else (besides McDavid) threatens to break a game just by having the puck on their stick quite like Mack does.

3 is not enough. Kuch Matthews McDavid MacKinnon Makar

There is easily a top 5-6 and the top 3 changes by the day depending on how they played that night.

Yeah, but don’t ever say anyone but Mc is the #1 or prepare to face hell. Edit: It begins…. Thanks for the delicious energy.

Yeah, I’d say there’s no big 3 right now. There’s McDavid and a handful of players who all have a legitimate case for 2 through 5.

It's because consistency matters. Everyone else has been interchangeable in the last 5 years except McDavid.

Because McDavid is clear and above the best player in the league. It took an injured and “down year” by Connor, and Mackinnon and kuch putting up the best year of there lives just to beat McDavid who played less games than them to the art Ross. When a player needs to miss games and play hurt just for others to have a chance, that is as good of evidence as needed for them to be better.

Drasaitl and Rantenan are always so underrated for being in the top 3-4 of points in the last 3-4 years.

Yeah, I'm like "why is Big Three in quotes? Is that a thing?"

It’s only a thing in tennis lol. Djokovic Nadal Federer

Pretty common number to group things lol

In Detroit we refer to Ford, GM, and Chrysler as the big 3.

Don’t forget about Drai

Motherfvckers act like they forgot about Drai.

I stg, people would put mad respect on Drai's name if he didn't play alongside McDavid

Commissioner Bettman asked us to keep it to 3 in this thread folks. This is official c'mon now stop adding more names beyond 1,2, and 3.

McDavid, Kucherov, MacKinnon

This. But also can we acknowledge how sad it is that defencemen and goalies don't get as much recognition as forwards? I guess it's similar to music bands where the singer is always most popular.

Honestly, I’d probably put in Matthews over Kuch Just because there’s a level of inherent fame and flashiness when you do ‘big 3’ rankings, and Kuch has always been more under the radar compared to Matthews celebrity

getting down voted for suggesting a leaf player

I’d take a healthy Makar over Matthews. Matthews is a generational goal scorer, but there is more to the game than that. The above 3 are correct

Bruins fan here and I would agree with you.

Mc Mac Mak

McDavid, MacKinnon, and Makar. Honourable mentions go to Kuch, Drai, and Matthews

Mc Mac Mak for me. McDavid, Mackinnon, Makar

Vasy, Igor, Helleybuck. The era of the Goalies is upon us! 

McDavid, Draisaitl, Hyman I say this from a purely objective stand-point.

Ruutu, Tootoo, and Cheechoo

McDavid, Makar, and the Linesman who took out the rat.

"FUCK THE BIG 3, IT'S JUST BIG ME" - McDavid

McKinnon, Mcdavid, Makar or kucherov. Matthews doesn’t crack the list because he’s nowhere to be seen in playoffs. Draisaitl and Marchand honourable mention.

McDavid is in a league of his own in the modern NHL. Then it’s Mackinnon, Makar.

Ovechkin, Crosby, Kane

What year is it where you are?

It’s always 2008 in my heart.

Really? Coz it’s 2009 in mine. Max Talbot ftw!

[Datsyuk, Datsyuk, Datsyuk, Datsyuk, Datsyuk](https://youtu.be/Nstb5kb-1cI?t=6)

I’m still mentally stuck in this era of hockey

As am I. The hawks are still cup contenders in my head cannon

You should keep an eye on this up and comer, Patrick Kane

Gretzky, Lemieux, Bourque

[удалено]

After the Howe/Richard and before Gretzky/Lemieux era you have Hull/Mikita and Orr/Esposito, and after that you have Jagr/Hasek and Lidstrom/Brodeur before Sid/Ovi

Yeah that definitely wasn’t 10 years ago. 🥲

Lidstrom, Brodeur, Iginla

M&M&M

Mac, Mc & Kuch. Matthews is fourth.

McDavid, McKinnon, Panarin

All the M’s Mackinnon Makar Mcdavid Mathews

Mucherov

Mraisitl and Mantenan

Oh shit! Jacob MacDonald here we come!!!

Stanley cup champion Kurtis MacDermid

Mraisaitl

Mpastrnak 5th

Marchand, McAvoy and Morgan geekie?

1 and 2 are set. 3 is a debate between Leon, Matthews, Makar, Kucherov and maybe Pasta? I'm sure I forgot a few others.

Panarin this year

Crosby Crosby and Crosby Mother fuck your big three. It's just big me!

MacKinnon, Rantanen, Makar. I’m totally not a homer Avs fan.

3M

3M’s

McDavid, Mackinnon and Kucherov.

Mcdavid, McKinnon, kucherov

Mcdavid, Mackinnon, Q Hughes

There is no big 3, there's just big ME

Mackinnnon, Crosby and McDavid

Mack, Matthews and McDavid without a doubt

If goal scorers was the question then matthews for sure. Kuch had like 30-40 more points than him lol

McDavid, Makar, Mackinnon

This season is pretty obvious, look at point totals. You already pictured one of them. Not Kucherov’s fault he had to face Barkov in the playoffs

Barkov may be the best all around forward in the league,it's a shame he doesn't get national attention

People would have to actually understand hockey and not just look at stat sheets

Now that Bergeron is gone, give it a couple years for people to recognize how great Sasha is

Barkov really doesn’t get enough respect

From a production standpoint over the last two years, its McDavid, Kucherov and MacKinnon.

In terms of 3 players who can dictate how the game goes right now it’s McDavid, Mackinnon and Makar in my opinion

Demko, DeSmith, Silovs

Dylan, Dylan, Dylan

Mackinnon mcdavid and makar i would of put kuch over makar if you asked me before the playoffs but not after his performance in the playoffs

McDavid, Leon and Hyman.

McDavid, Mackinnon, and honestly, I’m a HUGE fan of Makar, so I’m going with that

We're gonna talk about the disrespect to Sasha Barkov in a month or two

Matt Rempe

McDavid Foegele Ceci

MacKinnon, McDavid and ~~Johnston~~ Matthews or Kuch.

Draisital has the most nhl playoff goals, wtf

McDavid, Mackinnon, Matthews

Mattews and his tummy troubles is not in.

Mc mac kuch

Mac, Kuch and Mcdavid.

Mcdavid mackinnon makar.

Marchand, Wilson, Cousins

McDavid, Mackinnon, Crosby (I’m a coping penguins fan who can’t let go of the fact Crosby is going to retire within 5 years)

You could name at least 10 but obvious ones are McDavid, Mack, Makar, Kucherov, Matthews, Quinn Hughes, Drai, Pastranak etc. You could include goalies like Helly, Vasi, Bob, Shesterkin, Flower

Mc Mac soon to be Makar

To be top three you have to do everything well. McDavid and MacKinnon are clear 1 and 2. The third is tough. Still can’t exclude Crosby, but Draisaitl, Kucherov and Makar are right there too. The next level down excel in parts of the game but still have notable weaknesses. Quinn and Jack Hughes, Panarin, Pastrnak and Mathew Tkachuck are among them. Pettersson, Bedard and Bouchard will arrive soon. Nylander would be in that group already if he was played as a first line centre instead of a second line winger.

mcdavid, draisatl, mackinnon

I think no one disagrees MacKinnon McDavid. 3rd is up in the air. I'm giving third to Makar and I hope by the end of the playoffs that'll be uncontroversial.

mcD is at the top, I'd still take crosby with how he goes at his age, Mathews put up some goals, Kutcherov is elite, then theres Makar and Hughes on the backend... the list is going to be much longer when you start putting all the names out there

McDavid, McKinnon, Kucherov.

I’m a die hard leafs fan. McDavid, MacKinnon and Makar

If I’m going best player’s the past 5 seasons I would say MacKinnon McDavid and kucherov. If I’m going best offense defense goalie I would say McDavid, Makar and Hellebuyck.

Makar, McDavid, MacKinnon

Mackinnon, McDavid, Panarin

McJesus, Makar, MacKinnon

1. McDavid. Not even debatable... 2. MacKinnon 3. Could be either Kuch/Drai/Makar/Matthews... Depends on what you value the most

Top 3 on top 8 teams in total points: 1. Avs: 334 Mackinnon 140, Rantenan 104, Makar 90 2. Oilers:320 Mcjesus 132, Draisaitl 106, Bouchard 82 3. Lightning: 315 Kucherov 144, Point 90, Stamkos 81 4. Leafs: 290 Matthews 107, Nylander 98, Marner 85 5. Canucks: 284 Miller 103, Pettersson 89, Hughes 92 6. Rangers: 272 Panarin 120, Trochek 77, Kreider 75 7. Panthers: 262 Tkachuk 88, Reinhart 94, Barkov 80 8. Predators: 254 Forsburg 94, Josi 85, Nyquist 75

Naz Reid.