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

[Sidney the Kidney]

For the record, I'd list Draisaitl above Crosby right now if we're basing it on performance this past season. In case people are ehem "butthurt" about Matthews' status daring to be questioned.

 

[LeafsNation75]

For the record, I'd list Draisaitl above Crosby right now if we're basing it on performance this past season. In case people are ehem "butthurt" about Matthews' status daring to be questioned.

If some people want to have Matthews and Draisaitl in the same tier that's their opinion. It doesn't take away what Draisaitl did this season.

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

If some people want to have Matthews and Draisaitl in the same tier that's their opinion. It doesn't take away what Draisaitl did this season.

If some people want to have Matthews and Eichel in the same tier that's their opinion. Yet you guys seem to get bent out of shape every time you guys see a post saying that.

 

[TS Quint]

That's because you're looking at their numbers as a whole. I have the opinion that Draisaitl is actually on the Matthews, Eichel, Barkov tier rather than the Mackinnon, McDavid tier. Whether he's playing on the same line as him or centering the 2nd line. He's the only one out of that group that has the luxury of not being the best player on their team and being the primary focus.

You're kidding yourself if you think teams look to stop Draisaitl more than they do McDavid.

With this logic Eichel and Barkov are on a higher tier than Matthews who has Tavares to spilt the hard minutes with.

 

[LeafsNation75]

If some people want to have Matthews and Eichel in the same tier that's their opinion. Yet you guys seem to get bent out of shape every time you guys see a post saying that.

Leafs fans have said Matthews should be ranked ahead of Eichel. However there is nothing wrong with including them in the same tier.

 

[DudeWhereIsMakar]

Gonna be honest, I see Matthews sucking when he hits somewhere between 28-33, similar to how Lecavalier took a nosedive.

 

[TS Quint]

Well, you are starting a team from scratch, who do you pick?
Or you have a team that you want to win the cup with ASAP, who do you pick?

I go Matthews in both situations, so that's why I consider him "better".

How’s that working out in Toronto?

 

[LeafsNation75]

How’s that working out in Toronto?

Considering that Matthews is 22 years old and Bergeron is 35 years old, I can see why some people might pick Matthews over him based on that if your starting a new team from scratch.

 

[Merrrlin]

How’s that working out in Toronto?

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

 

[Maplebeasts]

This is silly and you know it. Theres more to the game than size and goal scoring.

Right and Pettersson does little to none of it better.

 

[Ace of Hades]

Right and Pettersson does little to none of it better.

Just like how their attributes like playmaking, speed, iq, etc where Matthews does little to none of it better.

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

Gonna be honest, I see Matthews sucking when he hits somewhere between 28-33, similar to how Lecavalier took a nosedive.

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

 

[LeafsNation75]

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

Last time I checked he's 22 years old and when next season starts he will be 23 years old.

 

[WetcoastOrca]

Right and Pettersson does little to none of it better.

Watch EP play and you may learn something. Pettersson is better defensively and a better playmaker. Matthews is a better goal scorer. It depends what you value in a center.

 

[Byron Bitz]

Gonna be honest, I see Matthews sucking when he hits somewhere between 28-33, similar to how Lecavalier took a nosedive.

So your saying Matt Cook is gonna ruin Matthew’s career

 

[Foppberg]

McDavid
MacKinnon
Crosby
Malkin
Barkov
Draisaitl
Eichel
Bergeron
Pettersson

So no.

 

[BenningHurtsMySoul]

Nice to see Pettersson in some people's top 10 lists.

 

[Green Snow Storm]

I don't think he is better than 3 of the following centers:

Connor McDavid
Patrice Bergeron
Sean Couturier
Elias Pettersson
Nathan MacKinnon
Ryan O'Reilly
Sidney Crosby

Really? I know O’Reilly and Couturier are key players, complete players, players teams win with, but you wouldn’t find a GM that would take either over Matthews if money wasn’t a factor.

 

[Green Snow Storm]

McDavid
MacKinnon
Crosby
Malkin
Barkov
Draisaitl
Eichel
Bergeron
Pettersson

So no.

Not a good look to think all those players are better than Matthews. Barkov? Really. Take a look at the season he just had. Sheesh.

 

[Maplebeasts]

All these boards have shown me lately is that Pettersson and Jones have become crazy overrated. Pettersson is not better than Matthews. Sorry it is what it is.

 

[Foppberg]

Not a good look to think all those players are better than Matthews. Barkov? Really. Take a look at the season he just had. Sheesh.

They're all better than AM, yes.

 

[LeafsNation75]

They're all better than AM, yes.

They can be considered the same tier but Matthews should be ranked ahead of Eichel.

Matthews should also be ranked ahead of Pettersson and I don't consider them to be in the same tier.

 

[Taluss]

I don’t consider him top 5 heading into the season but I can certainly see him being top 5 by the end. Don’t see him being better than a top 4 of Mcdavid, Mackinnon, Drai and Crosby though.

 

[eli4spetterss0n]

I have him 5th after McDavid, MacKinnon, Crosby, and Draisaitl.

 

[Connor McConnor]

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.

Craziest thing is, this all started with me saying I think he IS around top 5 and these 2 Leaf fans jump on my throat because I think Eichel is 6. Then they throw the word "butthurt" out there. Sheesh.