I guess, when I think about it - is that rule changes change everything. It is not hard at all to think he will be the top goal scorer of all time someday, but...

The Great One benefited from a move toward a faster, more open ice excitement that the NHL was pushing that put an emphasis on scoring, in the hopes it would improve interest. If for some reason mugging goal scorers comes into fashion, McDavid could be merely a discussion of "what could have been".

Lastly, one of the reasons I have always loved Ovechkin is that he is a 6'3"/240lb goal scoring freak that lays the lumber and doesn't need a Marty McSorley type body guard to protect him. He is the greatest, as far as I am concerned, and would be in any NHL era.