Auston Matthews or Jack Eichel?
- Thread starter SeanMoneyHands
- Start date
Does a 22 game sample (last year's playoffs) really impact people's opinions that much? Without that I don't see any argument at all for Eichel.
Are you saying if we removed Eichel from the Sabres and Matthews from the Leafs the teams are equal? That sure is an interesting opinion.
Eichel put up more points last playoffs than Matthews has in The last 3 seasons combined. Plus his cap hit is lower which is better for the TEAM, which Matthews and his fans couldn’t care less about, which is fine, I’m not here to tell you how to enjoy hockey.
How many more seasons will it take Matthews to put up 26 playoff points going forward? 3? 4? 5?
You are comparing two players not talking about one.
Is he $3.25m better?
KrisLetAngry
MrJukeBoy
Matthews.
1 playoff run from Eichel does not change my mind.
However that playoff run does move Eichel in the right direction.
1 playoff run from Eichel does not change my mind.
However that playoff run does move Eichel in the right direction.
Eichel has never been more than a hair off, if any, from Matthews in terms of toolset. He does it all offensively and I like his vision and use of his linemates better. I think he’s a more complete offensive player when both are going full steam and healthy.
That said, you can’t really argue with how AM has produced and his irrepressible goal scoring ability. I would’ve also given AM a sizable advantage in two-way play but Jack has really rendered that null with his impressive development as a focused, smart two-way center this past season.
For any given season, give me AM still. Track record and ability to be healthy matters. For any given game, it’s a toss up for me. Depends on how the rest of my top six is constructed.
That said, you can’t really argue with how AM has produced and his irrepressible goal scoring ability. I would’ve also given AM a sizable advantage in two-way play but Jack has really rendered that null with his impressive development as a focused, smart two-way center this past season.
For any given season, give me AM still. Track record and ability to be healthy matters. For any given game, it’s a toss up for me. Depends on how the rest of my top six is constructed.
Matthews easily. But if Matthews and Eichel both have similar seasons as last year then I think I’d have to reconsider. Especially if Eichel dominates in the playoffs again and Matthews continues to underperform when the games really matter.
Yes he is....but that's irrelevant, you are comparing contracts signed 6 years apart.
As a Vegas fan, it's tight but I say Matthews.
The Eichel playoff performance is an argument that has merit but he was the best play driver on a team that won by committee.
But in a nutshell, to your point and argument, Eichel was a better player for the run and he arguably deserved the Conn Smythe.
The Eichel playoff performance is an argument that has merit but he was the best play driver on a team that won by committee.
As much as I'd love to defend Marchessault as someone who goes unappreciated outside of Vegas, winning the Conn Smythe doesn't mean he led the team to the cup. More than half of Marchessault's goals came from premier set ups from Eichel. The team was "led" to a cup win by multiple players: Eichel, Marchessault, Stone, Pietrangelo, Hill, Karlsson, but the guy who led the team to a first cup win was Cassidy. His systems and ability to get the players to execute said systems was a bigger difference maker than any one individual's contribution.
But in a nutshell, to your point and argument, Eichel was a better player for the run and he arguably deserved the Conn Smythe.
I think Hill and Stone were both better than either, but I understand what you are saying, it was me pointing out that using an award much like PPG is not necessarily the best indicator of who the better player is, or who one should take going forward.
No, it’s very relevant regardless of the date contracts are signed. This is what Matthews fans don’t understand, contract length matters.
Matthews is signed through to the 2027-28 season, Eichel is only signed through to the 2025-26 season.
So far in their careers, Matthews has earned (cap hit) $57.879M, 481 games, 299 goals, 542 points. Eichel has earned $61.325M, 476 games, 180 goals, 446 points.
KirkAlbuquerque
#WeNeverGetAGoodCoach
I didn't touch AAV but while he is not "3.25 M better" at this time. However for year 4 through 6 there is a very good chance that Eichel is making more than 13.25 AAV and Matthews will most likely still be viewed as the better player but now making less.
Well, as I already noted, Matthews probably is $3.25M better anyway, but for 2023-24, the difference in contracts is only $1.6M, it will be $3.25 different for 2024-25 and 2025-26, but what is Eichel making in 2026-27 and 2027-28?
Matthews is 100% the better regular season player.
is he the better value? I don’t think so.
The Devilish Buffoon
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Matthews, still, by a decent margin. I think that margin will narrow over the next several years, though likely never close.
really...in 3 yrs he will be a high end #1 center approaching UFA and $15M will be the new $10M
TheKrebsCycle
Throwing Confetti for Perfetti
Very very easily Matthews . Completely different calibre of players . The next 5 years of Matthews is going to be filthy
norrisnick
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WhataKnight
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It would have been be interesting to see what Eichel’s trajectory would have been had the Sabres been run then as well as they are now.
While I would go with Matthews over Eichel, it isn’t by a lot. Matthews’ scoring goes at a pace Eichel’s can’t, but as of this post, Eichel’s 200ft. game and PPG (regs)/ PPG+ (POs) pace did for a roster what Matthews hasn’t - get the team over the top.
Technically, Toronto has to accomplish more than Vegas over the next couple years for me not to get the polling equivalent of “buyer’s remorse.”
While I would go with Matthews over Eichel, it isn’t by a lot. Matthews’ scoring goes at a pace Eichel’s can’t, but as of this post, Eichel’s 200ft. game and PPG (regs)/ PPG+ (POs) pace did for a roster what Matthews hasn’t - get the team over the top.
Technically, Toronto has to accomplish more than Vegas over the next couple years for me not to get the polling equivalent of “buyer’s remorse.”
