Even if load management becomes a factor, we can only rank the consensus best player of a generation so low every year. McDavid’s floor – a 26-goal, 100-point season in 67 games last year – qualifies as a career year for most mortal NHLers. It’s not a question of whether he’ll tilt the ice in Edmonton’s favor nightly or notch 100 points again or rank among the league leaders in points per game; it’s whether he plays enough games to sway Professional Hockey Writers Association voters. It’s clear at this stage of his career that individual accolades are not a priority. He’ll punt the Hart and Art Ross in the name of being fresh for the playoffs. That said: it’s McDavid. I refuse to rank him lower than second.

I always feel like I’m doing Draisaitl dirty placing him this low on the board. Previously, I did so because he only won his Hart during a year when McDavid missed significant time. Now, Draisaitl is less likely to find himself in that scenario because the Oilers might load-manage him, too. He won the Rocket Richard Trophy last season despite playing only 71 games, but those 11 missed games probably cost him the Hart. He finished second to Hellebuyck. So much has to go right for Draisaitl to win it.