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***luke*** · 03-08-2024, 07:21 AM

Taylor McDavid
@Hallsy

Considered one of the best two-way players in SHL history. Taylor McDavid was the prototypical SHL Two Way Forward in STHS times. With not many ways to determine what is a two way forward. Hits were at a premium, and McDavid sure provided them. Will get more into the specifics later, but McDavid would have a record that would take more than 25 seasons to surpass. Starting off at the beginning, McDavid was drafted 28th OA in the 3rd round of S8. To the West Kendall Platoon. He would however not stay long there.

S8 was the start of his career. In 38 games played with the Platoon, he scored 3 goals, 3 assists for 6 points… only playing about 8 minutes a night. Then at the trade deadline Winnipeg traded Claudio Krejci to the West Kendall Platoon for a 1st and Taylor McDavid. With the Jets GM Leafs4Ever saying
“You don't really win a trade like this because you lose such an amazing player, but we're very excited to add a second 1st rounder and we hope that Hall comes back because I feel like he can be a good asset for this club.”

And for sure McDavid had. Playing in the next 6 seasons with the Jets. Lets see how he did with them.

S9 showed what McDavid brought to the table two-way style. In a full 50 games with the team. Only playing 13.5 minutes a night with the Jets. McDavid scored 11 goals, 12 assist for 23 points. Not too bad. But most importantly, he had 128 hits. Which is impressive for the number of minutes played.

S10 he finally got actual minutes with the team, and you see his numbers all go up. With 19 minutes per game played. McDavid scored 16 goals, 14 assists for 30 points. He also racked up 177 hits that season. S11 he would win his first Jeff Dar award. How did he do so? He exploded onto the scene. With the final season of the inflation era. McDavid went crazy. Scoring 32 goals, 39 assists for 71 points. He also had his first 200+ hit season, with 205 hits. That's how he won the Jeff Dar. The 71 points was also good for 13th in the league in scoring that season.

S12 he would come back to earth, with most players from the inflation era. Still a young player in the league, McDavid had a large runway to play with. He scored 12 goals, 20 assists for 32 points. In addition to 130 hits. McDavid regressed in the hits department. S13 was even worse for hits, but better in points. Scored 19 goals, 24 assists for 43 points. He had a low of 89 hits for that season. Offensively that was great, and was tied for 13th in the league in points for that season. S14 would be an almost identical season for McDavid. Another 19 goal, 24 assist, 43 point season for him. Also good for 15th in league scoring. The hits came back, with 140. Not an amazing level, but a great level.

S15 would see a change for McDavid. Moving teams for his 2nd time of his career. Traded to the Hamilton Steelhawks. The Hawks got McDavid in exchange for Ryan Haan, Jan Benda and a 1st. Pretty nifty deal. The user behind McDavid, Halsey, went and became Hamitlon’s co-gm soon after as well.

Back to the player though. S15 would provide a more two-way player he was always about. With 15 goals, 20 assists for 35 points. He also had 138 hits. Continuing his two-way responsible play. S16 would see him get back into the Jeff Dar conversation. With 19 goals, 20 assists for 39 points. He also had 160 hits, the most since his 205 hits that won him the Dar. For his great season, he was nominated for the Jeff Dar.

S17 was even better, though the Dar results were nowhere to be seen. With an amazing regular season. 14 goals, 34 assists for 48 points. He also hit 200+ hits for the 2nd time in his career, with 205. Good for 3rd in the league in hits.

S18 & S19 were more disappointing seasons overall. Only scoring 38 & 39 points respectively. And 132 and 93 hits as well. After 11/12 seasons in the league. Could he be slowing down? Of course not. Reading this, you may be thinking, he’s the 9th best player ever? Why’s that? The next couple of seasons will tell you why. Aging like fine wine, McDavid showed what type of player he is.

Texas traded for McDavid’s rights that offseason. Then signs him to a 1 season 7 mil contract with the Renegades. He would cement himself as one of the best players in this league.

S20 he would win his first Challenge Cup in the league. Scoring 17 goals, 31 assists for 48 points. 4th in the league in scoring that season.

S21 he would deliver his best season so far, other than his inflation era season in S11. With 21 goals, 46 assists for 67 points. Along with 155 hits as well, McDavid led the league in scoring. Winning all the awards. First of all, getting 1st All Star Team, and winning his 2nd Challenge Cup as a part of the Renegades. McDavid also won his 2nd Jeff Dar, won his first Ron Mexico and Sarmad Khan, and won the Karpotsov for most points in the league.

S22 & 23 would see McDavid fall back down to earth. Show that he is still a regressing old man. Being in his 15th & 16th season in the league. S22 saw McDavid only score 15 goals, 25 assists for 40 points. STill getting his hits in though, with 165. Good for 28th in the league in points, and 7th in hits. S23 saw him show his first cracks of regression being a factor in his downturn. With only 12 goals, 21 assists for 33 points. It was his lowest point total in his career since S12 where he scored 32 points that season. He did manage to keep his hits up, with 149 that season.
S24, after 4 seasons with the Renegades, and winning 2 cups with them. He decided to explore free agency. McDavid had his rights traded to Winnipeg. Where he decided to not pursue free agency, and signed a 8 season x 1.5 mil deal with them. Now in his 2nd stint with the Jets, McDavid is proving he can still be that guy as he was before with the Jets.

S24 would be that season. The punishing power forward had an offensive explosion again. Scoring 17 goals, 43 assists and 60 points. He managed to get 201 hits as well, for the 3rd time in his career. The 3rd time he had 60+ points, and 2nd time after the inflation era. He was the best player that season, both leading the league in points and was 2nd in hits that season. For his efforts, he won his 2nd Jeff Dar award for best two-way forward, was nominated for the Ron Mexico, and won the Sergei Karpotsov for most points in the league.

S25 would be another excellent season out of McDavid. Scoring 19 goals, 28 assists for 47 points. He almost had another 200+ hit season, but he fell short with only 192 hits. McDavid was 14th in points for that season, and led the league in hits that season. Earning himself a Jeff Dar nomination, and a 3rd All Star Team. He was also able to win his 3rd Challenge Cup that season
S26 would be his last season being a great offensive player. Scoring 11 goals, 33 assists for 44 points. Good enough for tief for 25th in points. He also had 168 hits. S27 would be another great season in terms of hits. With 15 goals, 19 assists for 34 points. The most notable thing that season happened was that McDavid had 219 hits, passing the 3000 hit mark of his career. The first player along with Willie Weber that season to reach 3000 hits.

S28 & S29 would cement McDavid as the leading hits leader until Mike Izzy passed him in S55. With McDavid getting 163 hits and 205 hits in those final 2 seasons before retiring.

With a career stats of 1109 games played, 330 goals, 540 assists for 870 points. He finished with 3434 hits. The best power forward / bruiser in the league. Holding the hits leader until S55. McDavid was no offensive slouch either. With his 3 Dar wins and 2 Dar noms, he was one of the best two way players of his time. His 3 Jeff Dar wins were the best match up to Jeff Dar himself. And only surpassed by FHM players like Grogu Mandosson and Andreas Kvalheim.

At the time of retirement, McDavid was 3rd in all time points, 1st in all time hits, and 5th all time in points at the end of S29. One of the best players to play the game, Taylor McDavid is the 9th best SHL player of all time.

As we get into the top 10, we are also going to be sharing where they got ranked on everyone’s ballots. For McDavid, he had 7 Tier 2(11-25) votes, 1 Top 10(6-10) vote and a #4 all time vote from the committee.

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***WannabeFinn*** · 03-08-2024, 12:35 PM

Hallsy predicted McDavid to the Oilers years in advance

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