Halla
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- Jan 28, 2016
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C Auston Matthews (2016, 1st, TOR) VII
- Thread starter Stolie the Goalie
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Albus Dumbledore
Master of Death
- Mar 28, 2015
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even toews is only 6'2 200 pounds which isnt exactly huge, matthews is already bigger then that at 18.
91Stammer*
Registered User
Dont worry you can hide behind lower levels player like Galchenyuk. Toronto's spot light makes everyone godlike even if its just a scrub like Boyes or Polak those guys are godly 4th liner/bottom pairing players because they play in Toronto. Now crawl back to your hole and never come to day light.
Whethrr matthws is generationsl or not will probably be determined after his rookie season.
Who knows maybe Marner is a generational talent and fits right in.
Who knows maybe Marner is a generational talent and fits right in.
Man Bear Pig
Registered User
The question for me as a Leafs fan is, why the hell do I care if he's "generational" or any other tag you wanna throw out there? The guys gonna be the 1st big star center we've been searching for since Sundin. Generational? Who cares.
snipes
How cold? I’m ice cold.
- Dec 28, 2015
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Hmmm.
I went back and read the last couple of pages. The vast majority of Leafs fans have been very level headed and reasonable in their analysis. I don't really think they're making that argument. Most have said he's not at the Crosby/McDavid level. Those two only come along every so often. And that's fine, not every player can be compared to those type of rare talents.
I'm actually surprised, I don't like giving the Leafs fans props but they've been pretty reasonable in their views.
The Leafs are getting a future #1 C. They are getting a bigger Sakic/Yzerman type player if he plays to his abilities. Matthews will be a Leaf for life. For what it's worth, Matthews goes 1st overall over Hall, Yakupov, and RNH.
What? Matthews is not generational, if he was or had a chance to be that people would have been talking about it for years, whether warranted or not. Generational players don't "break out" after being drafted, they are generational because they are better then everyone else from a very young age. Matthews is going to be very good, but some people are getting a bit carried away. He should be at that elite Eichel/Kane, level. He's not in the McDavid/Crosby tier now or in the future.
Randy Randerson
Registered User
I think we're lacking a term for the level that most leaf fans hope Matthews to be - to me "Franchise" means that they're good enough to be the focal point of an NHL team and (without actually counting) I think there's probably ~30 of those, would include players like Gaudreau, Kopitar, Backstrom, Giroux, The Sedins (of a few years ago), etc. Not to say every team has one, some of two or three, but players that are good enough to be the best player on a contending team (and no one does it alone, so everyone needs a supporting cast of good players)
"Generational" talents I think are pretty obvious - arguably the best player of their generation: Gretzky, Orr, Lemieux, Crosby, Possibly Ovechkin, Possibly McDavid
What I am hoping for (and I think other leaf fans too) is for Matthews to be elite among franchise players, in the tier where I'd put Stamkos (if he returns to form after injuries), Tavares, Malkin (current, there was an argument that he was generational pre-2012), young Joe Thornton, maybe Seguin, young Spezza, etc. The tier where guys like Jagr will be remembered - first ballot hall of famers, but a step below the truly generational talents.
Does that make sense, or did I just muddy the waters?
And to be fair, we've known about Auston Matthews since he was like 15, he held the #1 ranking in this draft for at least 2 years before it happened
Randy Randerson
Registered User
I think that highlights the point, the categories are fuzzy. I don't think there's an argument that Jagr is the best player of his generation because he played while Gretzky and Lemieux were in their prime, but if he was drafted in 2002 I think he'd absolutely be in the Ovechkin class....so, sure, blurred line again
Edit: Generational jerry curl? Absolutely....maybe the best of all time.
WTFMAN99
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- Jun 17, 2009
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Most Leaf fans are reasonable...there are nutcases in all fan bases.
I'm actually pretty excited to see what he can do at the World Cup.
Cotton
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- May 13, 2013
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I agree 100%. I think the suggestion was floated out there by a couple media guys but I don't think anyone honestly believes that.
DopeyFish
Mitchy McDangles
- Nov 17, 2009
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I say there's a decent chance he is. We don't exactly know for sure because of the strange path he took. There isn't anything to compare to. In international tournaments, he's been trending with McDavid with performance but I don't put a lot of stock in those tournaments. (due to team depths, competition differences)
Is USNTDP, he destroyed the single season records for goals and points. (held by Kane and Kessel)
Every time I see him, I'm floored with the skills he has as a big C while having incredible maturity in his defensive game.
I'm in the boat of just seeing what he is instead of giving a proclamation because in the end it doesn't matter much. Stuff said on the boards doesn't change what happens on the ice.
Is USNTDP, he destroyed the single season records for goals and points. (held by Kane and Kessel)
Every time I see him, I'm floored with the skills he has as a big C while having incredible maturity in his defensive game.
I'm in the boat of just seeing what he is instead of giving a proclamation because in the end it doesn't matter much. Stuff said on the boards doesn't change what happens on the ice.
It's doable. At 18 I was 6'2" and 170, with very little bodyfat. I was playing Jr B hockey and rugby. I had great endurance but only okay strength. Flash forward to age 24 when I finally join a gym and learn to lift. I bulked up 35lbs in less than a year simply through proper lifts (legs day!) and eating right. I didn't even supplement.
Massive weight gain isn't that complicated if you have a big frame to work with and you're willing to put in the work at the gym and, even more importantly, the kitchen.
Me too! I get to see Laine (Finland) VS. Matthews (Team NA) Sept 18th in Toronto! I'll make sure to watch all Jets and Leafs players closely to update the hockey hungry folks on the HF boards!
Randy Randerson
Registered User
very doable, 40ish pounds for a long frame over the course of years while turning from a teenager into a man just by natural course, as long as the genes don't make it super hard to put on weight I don't think it will even be a big challenge - Korshkov's dad was 250lbs-ish so I think he'll be fine
Not sure if you saw that link I posted, a guy I know put on 40lbs over the course of a weekend - not muscle weight, but goes to show how drastically we can change our bodies if we want to
Jeypic
Registered User
- Sep 12, 2015
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Crosby and ovechkin are a decade older then mcdavid. i think they come from different generations.
I personally find it really hard to rate this kids skill level until i watch him play some games in the NHL. Seeings how he never came up the CHL or College route its hard for me to compare him to what i'm used to seeing. I'll reserve my judgement until 1/3 or more of the season is played.
McDavid could be, but he isn't yet. You have to actually prove yourself to be generational. Give it some time.
KidLine93
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- May 15, 2012
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Playing hockey+rugby was probably burning an insane amount of calories haha. These kids learn how important diet is pretty quickly. They have dieticians etc with their clubs that get them to a desired weight/composition as long as the kid has the drive to put in the work. Im shocked Matthews is 216 at 18 years old yet can still move the way he does. I wonder if he's filled out early or if we will see him at 225-230 in his prime.
Yeah me too.
Really hard for me to get a read on this guy. I'm a Leafs fan but I'm not going to pretend like I can place this guy with any real knowledge.
Excited to watch him (and Marner too) but we won't know what they're capable of until we see them play a couple months at least in the NHL.
These discussions could be very different in both directions of success by that time. This summer is starting to feel long
TMLife*
Auston Matthews
Hokinaittii
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- Aug 15, 2015
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Seems like recently some of the posters here have become really fond of the word "insecure".
Auston Matthews is a great hockey player and no doubt the future franchise player of Leafs.
Auston Matthews is a great hockey player and no doubt the future franchise player of Leafs.
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