What I said was, Laine isn't a once in a generation goal scorer at this point. Matthews has been the better goal scorer and has done it not being even close to as reliant on linemates. Hence why Matthews has killed Laine at 5v5 goal scoring-wise. Saying Matthews has been the better goal scorer so far, and that Laine isn't a one in a generation goal scorer isn't being a homer. I mean, he had 1 more goal in 25 fewer games. Unless you don't think Matthews can stay healthy, its a bit ridiculous to think he can't be a perrenial 40 goal guy. I mean, evidence at this point pretty strongly shows he has a very strong chance. Yet, you don't think he can be unless scoring stays high.I guess everything is always about Matthews and how he’s better than Laine to Leafs fans. How could I possibly have a different opinion on a player with all of 1 less goal entering this season? All I heard all offseason from Leaf fans was that everything that could involve these players in any comparison was always in favor of Matthews and there’s no debate. Now I’m being told by you, probably the least prone Leaf fan on the website to being a total homer, that a player with one less goal entering the season has no argument for being a better goal scorer than a player with one goal more.
Laine had a bad season, yet I guess there’s an opportunity to win a Matthews vs. Laine contest for Leaf fans entering this season, so that takes precedent. It takes such precedent that every discussion on this website has to become a debate on this topic. If you’ll notice, I didn’t mention Matthews in my post. I think he’d be drafted before Lafreniere. I think most would agree with that. Leaf fans certainly will never agree on anything that makes Laine look good.
And I’ll mention again that you usually don’t stoop to this kind of rhetoric. I don’t know why you’ve now decided it’s time to join the homer brigade as anti-Laine with an immediate comparison to Matthews.
I mean, I didn't even bash Laine, I said Laine would be in the discussion with Laf at this point. You decided to try to frame me as completely biased by grouping me with a bunch of other people. Maybe examine your own biases towards Laine and generally euro prospects before you start claiming someone else is completely biased.
But, whatever. Lafreniere would challenge Laine, Kakko and Hughes, and it will be interesting to see how he finishes this year. WJC will be a big event for him with the role he is expected to have.