During last year’s Stanley Cup Final, there were some extremely interesting and dramatic storylines that played out over the course of a seven-game extravaganza.

One of the more unexpected narratives came from a longtime, well respected South Florida sports columnist named Greg Cote.

Prior to the start of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final, Cote wrote that Edmonton Oilers superstar Connor McDavid was “overrated.”

As one might imagine, it was universally disagreed with, which didn’t seem to bother Cote one bit.

In his original story, Cote wrote: “Connor McDavid is overrated. Boom. He puts up big, impressive stats, yes. Fine. But should he really be called “generational,” called the best player in the sport, when in nine seasons he has yet to lead his team to a Stanley Cup?”

McDavid went on to record three goals and 11 points during the Final, capping off a postseason in which he racked up 42 points and earned the Conn Smythe Trophy.

He followed that ridiculousness up with his fifth straight 100-point season (it would be his ninth straight, but he finished with 97 points after playing just 64 games in the COVID-shortened 2019-20 season.

As for this year’s playoffs, McDavid has logged a more modest six goals and 26 points in 16 outings while leading his team back to the Final in two less games than it took last postseason.

Apparently, none of that has impressed Cote.

Not only did he double down on his “overrated” take from last season, but he brought a certain South Florida sports legend into the conversation, just to further prove his point.

“Is it true some nincompoop Miami columnist referred to McDavid as “McOverrated” in last year’s Final?” Yes, I did! (Who uses the word nincompoop anymore?) And guess what? The unkind nickname is even more of a snug fit now.

“McOverrated does not mean McDavid isn’t great. He is. He has won three Hart (MVP) trophies, led the league in points five times. His combo of speed and stick-handling might be unmatched.

But enough with the McJesus, next-Gretzky hyberbole. He isn’t perfect. Nothing special defensively. Prone to turning the puck over. Oh, and this minor thing: NO CHAMPIONSHIPS. Zero Stanley Cups in his 10th NHL season. Tick-tock, Connor. Not sure about you Canadians, but here in the States we sort of a put a premium on winning it all. (It’s why Dan Marino never really entered the greatest-QB-ever talk even though he shattered NFL passing records. Never won a Super Bowl.)”

Painful Dan Marino memories aside, do we really want to poke the bear?

Again?

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Photo caption: Jun 24, 2024; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Edmonton Oilers forward Connor McDavid (97) controls the puck as Florida Panthers forward Carter Verhaeghe (23) reaches to defend during the first period in game seven of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final at Amerant Bank Arena. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)