Well yes, I agree about that. However, don't get me wrong. I do not think that faceoffs 'don't matter' in the context of reality. What my point is, and has always been, is that you they don't matter as much as the frequency of their being brought up would lead you to believe.

So when someone says, "You conveniently ignore the fact that McDavid is bad at faceoffs" I say "That doesn't matter" Because it doesn't. McDavid could lose all his faceoffs and he would still be among the best in the world, because the things he can do that others can't have a far greater impact on the game than faceoffs do.
- James_Tanner

But you're making the argument around an INDIVIDUAL'S play/potential. How does McDavid, Crosby, Toews, et al move the puck up ice? Did their team win the draw or did it magically appear on their stick? The game through small plays, like a face off win back to a defenseman who moves the puck up to a breaking winger who then feeds (insert star player here) to take advantage of their highly advanced individual skill. Its a team game Mr Tanner with the (yes important face-offs) being a contributing factor...

He has a 52% Corsi, and a 98 PDO, despite scoring 10 5v5 points in 16 games.

That is a pace that would put him about 5th in even-strength scoring. You know, despite the fact he's played 16 career games.

No one else in the NHL - seriously, no one - can handle the puck the way he does at the speed he does. He has a Gretzky like awareness of where his teammates are.

In 16 games, he's been on the ice for 101 scoring chances. That is crazy.

I really do think he is the best player in the world.
- James_Tanner

So wait, the stats you're using to classify him show that there are currently at least 4 players better than him. That means that he is, at best, the 5th best player in the league (not necessarily world).

Now, he may one day be the best player in the league. But as of right now, he's not. Impressive, yes. Best, no.