As a long time Philadelphia Flyers fan, it seems to me this debate 20 some odd years ago was between players from the two same teams. The participants then were Jagr and Lindros.
Ever since the debut of Sidney Crosby in the 2005/06 season with the rule changes (that have gone right out the window), the title of the best player in the world has been up for debate.
Now for some people this doesn’t seem to be a debate, but it is to people who really study the game.
In the 2012 playoffs, the Giroux lead Flyers destroyed the Penguins and Coach Laviolette named Giroux the best player in the world.