Connor McDavid has long been the poster boy for the NHL. Since being drafted #1 overall in the 2015 NHL Draft, he’s been touted as the best player in the league, transforming the Edmonton Oilers into a perennial title contender along the way.
His skating has been nothing short of phenomenal, leaving both teammates and opponents gasping for air in his wake. But Dallas Stars forward Mikko Rantanen believes that others can go toe-to-toe with “McJesus,” and he recently dropped three names that might raise some eyebrows.
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While McDavid has continued to mesmerize fans with his otherworldly skating and playmaking abilities, Rantanen isn’t buying into the narrative that he’s untouchable. The Stars forward recently named three players he believes can hang with the Oilers captain stride-for-stride.
First on the list? Vancouver Canucks captain Quinn Hughes. Since being drafted by the franchise, Hughes has been the heartbeat of Vancouver’s success, consistently putting them in playoff contention.
The 2023 Norris Trophy winner isn’t just the best defenseman on the ice, but he’s also been driving the Canucks’ entire offense. Last season, Hughes exploded for 76 points, leading Vancouver in scoring while continuing to dazzle with his elite skating ability.
Rantanen believes the blue liner has the wheels to take McDavid to a dance one-on-one, and honestly? The tape backs it up. But Hughes isn’t the only D-man on Rantanen’s list.
The Stars forward has also named Cale Makar, and if you’ve watched the Colorado Avalanche star play, you know exactly why. Despite manning the blue line, Makar has consistently posted offensive numbers that would make most elite forwards jealous.
Last season alone, Makar racked up a staggering 92 points. That’s actually outpacing his superstar teammate Nathan MacKinnon in the scoring race. The D-man has faced off against McDavid 13 times in his career and has come out on top in nine of those matchups.
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Their most memorable encounter was the 2022 Western Conference Finals, when the Avalanche steamrolled the Oilers 4-0 in Game 4 to punch their ticket to the Stanley Cup Finals. While McDavid leads their head-to-head in points (22-17), Makar dominated where it mattered most, posting a +7 rating compared to McDavid’s struggles.
The final player Rantanen believes belongs in McDavid’s stratosphere is his Dallas teammate, Miro Heiskanen. The Finnish defenseman has quietly become one of the league’s most complete players, combining elite skating with shutdown defensive ability.
For all intents and purposes, McDavid remains the gold standard in the NHL. But Rantanen’s list serves as a reminder that the gap is closing. Hughes, Makar, and Heiskanen represent a new generation of skaters who can legitimately challenge the throne.
Whether they can consistently outperform McDavid over a full season is another question entirely, but one thing’s certain: “McJesus” is no longer skating alone at the top.
