Do you consider Auston Matthews a Top-5 Center heading into next year?

[93LEAFS]

Why do you keep talking about him being on the McDavid/MacKinnon tier when I'm talking about him clearly being ahead of Matthews right now? I didn't say he was on par with those two, I said he's ahead of Matthews, and his production the past two seasons proves that.

I'm also chuckling at "butthurt". I'm not an Oilers fan. Why would I have a personal, emotional stake in what people think about Draisaitl? I just think it's comical that Draisaitl still doesn't get the recognition for what he's done even after he literally just won the Art Ross trophy. If it was Matthews who just won the Art Ross trophy there would be threads insisting he's better than McDavid.

Drai in center discussion is a complex issue considering he doesn't play it full time. And, he only has a fairly small sample size of very high-level performance at it with RNH and Yamamoto that was riding crazy percentages. If you want to say Drai is a better player than Matthews, I'm not going to argue it. But, when it becomes about at center is where it remains a debate.

 

[LeafsNation75]

Drai in center discussion is a complex issue considering he doesn't play it full time. And, he only has a fairly small sample size of very high-level performance at it with RNH and Yamamoto that was riding crazy percentages. If you want to say Drai is a better player than Matthews, I'm not going to argue it. But, when it becomes about at center is where it remains a debate.

The one difference is Matthews has been a center since his first game in the NHL and it's something Draisaitl was not doing.

 

[DudeWhereIsMakar]

I don't think Matthews will be 28-33 next year, could be wrong though

I love it when Leaf fans troll me when they feel threatened. But in reality, I'm not trying to put down the Leafs or Auston Matthews.

Guys like Crosby and Draisaitl I can see being good till they're 35-40. McDavid, I see him regressing as late as 36.

 

[Hierso]

The one difference is Matthews has been a center since his first game in the NHL and it's something Draisaitl was not doing.

I fail to see why that matters. It's not like it's the first time a player has switched the pos.

 

[LeafsNation75]

I fail to see why that matters. It's not like it's the first time a player has switched the pos.

Matthews was drafted as center and Draisaitl was drafted as a winger.

 

[DudeWhereIsMakar]

So you're saying Matt Cooke is gonna ruin Matthew’s career?

Well, Matthew David Cooke already ruined his own career. A scrub who kept making dirty hits and has a tarnished legacy similar to Raffi Torres.

 

[Gurglesons]

Don’t see how you can’t. Best goalscorer in the league arguably moving forward and he ain’t shitty defensively.

I can see Sid, McDavid and MacK above him not sure who else.

 

[LeafsNation75]

Don’t see how you can’t. Best goalscorer in the league arguably moving forward and he ain’t shitty defensively.

I can see Sid, McDavid and MacK above him not sure who else.

Among NHL Centers this past season Matthews was #1 with 47 goals.

 

[Gurglesons]

Among NHL Centers this past season Matthews was #1 with 47 goals.

I’m saying amongst all forwards.

I think Pasta has a case at being better at scoring goals.

 

[LeafsNation75]

I’m saying amongst all forwards.

I won't argue with that.

I was just pointing out among Centers Matthews was the leading goal scorer this past season, since this poll question has to do with other players who play that position.

 

[Plural]

Yup. I like goalscorers and Matthews is in the upper elite tier in that regard.

 

[Papi 4 Hart]

On the PP - certainly.

They did play together at ES again for a small stretch in the fall but Leon did as well without Connor (because the Nuge-Drai-Yams line was beastly and top-5 in the league IMO).

Line Stats - Natural Stat Trick

Draisaitl played with McDavid as much as Matthews played with Marner. Approx 500mins of ES time.

That's a ton of the shortened season.... that's my point.

 

[TS Quint]

That would make sense if we were talking about golfers or singles tennis players.

No, we are talking cap hit/salary structure. If Matthews can’t carry the team then what are the Leafs paying him that contract for? The Leafs salary structure is flawed by overpaying these guys who aren’t living up to their contacts.

Part of that is coaching, Keefe is garbage in the way the set their lines. The way Keefe overloads his lines is straight up amateur. There is only one puck out there. But maybe that’s because he doesn’t believe in his players.

 

[Merrrlin]

No, we are talking cap hit/salary structure. If Matthews can’t carry the team then what are the Leafs paying him that contract for? The Leafs salary structure is flawed by overpaying these guys who aren’t living up to their contacts.

Part of that is coaching, Keefe is garbage in the way the set their lines. The way Keefe overloads his lines is straight up amateur. There is only one puck out there. But maybe that’s because he doesn’t believe in his players.

Are you sure you are in the right thread? You may want to read the title again. Skill and game impact are unrelated to cap hit/salary structure.

That's twice you've swung and missed. One more and you're out

 

[TS Quint]

Are you sure you are in the right thread? You may want to read the title again. Skill and game impact are unrelated to cap hit/salary structure.

That's twice you've swung and missed. One more and you're out

You opened that door. But at least you agree he doesn’t deserve that contract. Most Leaf fans are still in denial. I respect that from you.

 

[Merrrlin]

You opened that door. But at least you agree he doesn’t deserve that contract. Most Leaf fans are still in denial. I respect that from you.

How did I open that door? lol I answered the question in the thread, are you sure you are quoting the right person?

 

[BAM]

I’m saying amongst all forwards.

I think Pasta has a case at being better at scoring goals.

ES Matthews is by far the best, Pasta makes a killing on that powerplay.

 

[tucker3434]

I’d say, not heading into next year, but coming out of next year seems possible.

 

[LeafsNation75]

ES Matthews is by far the best, Pasta makes a killing on that powerplay.

In Matthews 4 seasons he's scored 8, 5, 12, and 12 power play goals.

 

[Regal]

ES Matthews is by far the best, Pasta makes a killing on that powerplay.

Matthews has also greatly improved his PP efficiency the last two years and his totals are hindered a bit by the Leafs lack of PPs. I don't really see much of an argument for Pasta being the better goalscorer overall.

 

[LeafsNation75]

Matthews has also greatly improved his PP efficiency the last two years and his totals are hindered a bit by the Leafs lack of PPs. I don't really see much of an argument for Pasta being the better goalscorer overall.

Since Matthews rookie season this is where the Leafs ranked in total power play time, so it adds to his lack of power play goals.

2016-17: 21st

2017-18: 31st

2018-19: 30th

2019-20: 27th

 

[voxel]

That's a ton of the shortened season.... that's my point.

He spent about the same amount of ice time with Nuge and Yams then a random assortment of ice time with others. So basically more than a third of the total ice time but from Jan onwards he was solely with Nuge and Yams as center. Anyhow, Draisaitl takes most of the draws even with McDavid. Again it’s about the same ice time as Matthews and Marner this season.

 

[voxel]

Matthews was drafted as center and Draisaitl was drafted as a winger.

Do you even follow hockey or just Leafs? Memorial cup MVP Draisaitl was a center throughout junior. He was beastly as a center. Amazing on the dot.

IMO Matthews is closer to a prototypical winger. He isn’t a great playmaker.

 

[LeafsNation75]

He spent about the same amount of ice time with Nuge and Yams then a random assortment of ice time with others. So basically more than a third of the total ice time but from Jan onwards he was solely with Nuge and Yams as center. Anyhow, Draisaitl takes most of the draws even with McDavid. Again it’s about the same ice time as Matthews and Marner this season.

Shouldn't it be taken to account that besides playing together on the power play, Matthews and Marner were not put on the same line at 5v5 together until December 21, 2019 which was the Leafs 37th game and only after Mike Babcock got fired.

 

[LeafsNation75]

Do you even follow hockey or just Leafs? Memorial cup MVP Draisaitl was a center throughout junior. He was beastly as a center. Amazing on the dot.

IMO Matthews is closer to a prototypical winger. He isn’t a great playmaker.

So how come Draisatil wasn't considered more for being the 1st overall pick in 2014?