As has been pointed out consistently throughout the Eastern Conference Final between the New York Rangers and Montreal Canadiens, PK Subban and Ryan McDonagh could have been teammates.
McDonagh was originally drafted by the Canadiens, and could well be playing alongside Subban on the side of the ice that has more red than blue and white. Instead, the Scott Gomez trade continues to handicap the Canadiens, this time in a far more tangible way.
McDonagh has been a nightmare for the Canadiens in this series. With 2 goals and 5 assists he has put up 7 of his 10 playoff points in the 4 games he has played against the Habs. Other than Henrik Lundqvist, McDonagh has been the most important reason that his team is currently leading the Canadiens 3-1. Subban, on the other hand, has been invisible in the series. When he has been visible, it has been for all the wrong reasons at only 1 goal and a -4.
But just this series on its own is not enough to add facts to the debate it has created: who is the better overall player, Subban or McDonagh? Although there is no question as to which of the two have been better when facing each other head-to-head in the playoffs, Subban has the better numbers when it comes to the playoffs as a whole. But contemplating this question goes further than just these playoffs.
Subban and McDonagh are separated by one month in age, as both will soon be 25. Most defenseman reach their prime later on in their careers, which is a testament to the quality of this pair. Subban has played almost 40 more NHL games, and has 64 more points, not to mention almost double the goals, to show for it. He also has a Norris Trophy, something which McDonagh has never even been nominated for, making him the consensus choice between the two.
However, saying defense is all about offensive ability is an oxymoron in itself, and in several defensive categories McDonagh is superior to Subban. While it is a statistic that has been called into question on more than one occasion, McDonagh’s plus-minus has been superb throughout his career. This year was no different. His puck possession numbers (Corsi and Fenwick) are also good, and he was about two percentage points above Subban in both categories this season. Finally, he plays significantly more time on the penalty kill than Subban giving him the edge in terms of overall defensive versatility.
In terms of points, the gap of 10 held by Subban over McDonagh is decreased to only a two point gap when powerplay points are eliminated from the equation. In that regard, Subban plays a lot more powerplay time than McDonagh, and his stats reflect that fact. McDonagh also plays against a higher quality of competition.
Saying this argument is one sided against Subban, however, is completely ignoring a number of key points. Subban’s defensive abilities have always been underrated, a result of his penchant for making high risk plays that end up in ugly mishaps. Meanwhile, McDonagh’s puck possession is better than Subban’s in terms of numerical value, but the team he plays on has far better numbers in both these categories. In fact McDonagh’s Corsi and Fenwick numbers are both below that of his average teammates, while Subbans are higher.
McDonagh also has a higher percentage of offensive zone starts, which gives him a more favourable start to his shifts. While he does play against a higher quality of competition, his quality of teammates is also better than what Subban has beside him on a regular basis.
This includes Subban’s defensive partner, Josh Gorges. While Gorges is a fantastic defenceman, and one who would bolster the blueline of just about any team in the NHL, he is no Dan Girardi. Girardi and Gorges are similar partners in terms of their playing style, but the former is significantly more talented and provides a distinct advantage to McDonagh. This has to be taken into consideration when comparing the qualities of the two players.
Another major attribute that Subban holds over McDonagh is something that cannot be based in statistics: Subban’s game-breaking ability. While McDonagh is a fantastic defenceman who plays a huge role in his teams victories on any given night, he is rarely the catalyst of that victory. Subban, on the other hand, has the ability to take over a game and turn it in his team’s favor. In the last round against the Boston Bruins he did this on more than one occasion, playing some of the best hockey of his career in the process.
It is with this that the current edge in terms of the better overall player must go to Subban. The Canadiens defender has the bigger overall upside, a factor that may well make the gap even larger over the next couple of years. He already has a Norris Trophy on his shelf, a factor in this argument that cannot be ignored. His game-breaking ability gives him a value that few other players in the league can duplicate. Finally, his defense is underrated and while McDonagh is better overall defensively, the difference is not great enough.
It is likely that the New York Rangers win this series, and by the time the dust settles McDonagh could have a Stanley Cup ring. But in the battle between himself and Subban, the Montreal Canadiens defenseman has the slight edge. Although he is making strides both into the limelight, and in pursuit of Subban.
Interested in writing for LWOS? We are looking for enthusiastic, talented writers to join our (insert sport) writing team. Visit our “Write for Us” page for very easy details in how you can get started today!
Main Photo:
