Connor McDavid's career compared to Phil Kessel leaves NHL fans in shock - "Seeing it laid out like this is astonishing"

Is Phil Kessel's career better than Connor McDavid's? A recent Reddit post featuring the careers and accomplishments of Kessel and McDavid has generated considerable debate, with fans making comparisons in order to determine the best between the two.

The widely circulated post on the social media platform shows Kessel outperforming McDavid in every stat category.

Is Phil Kessel better than Connor McDavid?

Before making any assumptions, let's compare both players' NHL stats and accomplishments. Phil Kessel has been in the league for the past 17 years. During that period, he's played for five teams and has won three Stanley Cups.

Overall, Kessel has appeared in 1,286 games and has racked up 992 points through 413 goals and 579 assists. Meanwhile, in the playoffs, the 35-year-old has accumulated 83 points through 34 goals and 49 assists in 100 games.

In contrast, McDavid has played for only one franchise in his entire eight-year career so far. During that span, the Edmonton Oilers captain has skated in 569 games, garnering 850 points through 303 goals and 547 assists. In the playoffs, the 26-year-old has racked up 75 points with 29 goals and 46 assists in 49 games.

When it comes to individual accomplishments, Connor McDavid has received numerous accolades in the NHL. The only thing he hasn't won yet is the Stanley Cup.

Indeed, Phil Kessel has better stats compared to McDavid. However, it's important to consider that McDavid is nine years younger than Kessel. Given his current performances and age, McDavid is likely to match if not surpass Kessel in most categories in the long run.

At the end of the day, fans need to recognize and appreciate the unique qualities and accomplishments that each player brings to the game.

About the author

Abhishek is an NHL writer at Sportskeeda with over 2 years of sports reporting experience and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Delhi. He became a fan of ice hockey after watching NHL fight videos on YouTube, which led to him professionally writing about the sport and his continued interest in all things hockey.

A fan of the Boston Bruins, Abhishek considers their incredible comeback win against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2013 playoffs as the most iconic moment in the NHL. His admiration for the six-time Stanley Cup winners also comes from the team’s storied history, distinctive black and gold uniform and their success in the sport. His all-time favorite NHL players are Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid, for their ability to perform at the highest level consistently.

Abhishek ensures his reporting is fair and balanced by being well-researched in his details, which he expects to be relevant, up-to-date and in line with ethical standards. His specialties are doing detailed match analysis and covering fan reactions.

Abhishek enjoys music, traveling and going on walks with his three German Shepherds in his free time, along with learning about horticulture.

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