Game 7 Stanley Cup Finals: Both healthy, who are you taking today - Matthews or Malkin

[Michel Beauchamp]

And? Old Malkin would have to be way better in the playoffs to justify taking him, but he’s not that player anymore.

And? The post of yours that I quoted mentioned his stats after 2017, i.e. after he turned 30, which are almost equivalent to Matthews' stats in his prime...

Matthews has never been the postseason player that Malkin is.

 

[Stive Morgan]

No disrespect to Matthews, but easily Malkin.

He was actually more intimidating than Crosby (who was no slouch himself) when the Habs matched up with them in the playoffs in 2010 and 2020. Dude is an absolute machine and seems to turn it up a level when the stakes are high.

The playoffs is one of the few times I would be biased towards a veteran than a younger player. Veterans making simple, smart plays is a big part of what wins games/Cups.

 

[Wings4Life]

And? The post of yours that I quoted mentioned his stats after 2017, i.e. after he turned 30, which are almost equivalent to Matthews' stats in his prime...

True. And as an added bonus, their points per game is basically identical here and now, in the current season.

 

[banks]

No disrespect to Matthews, but easily Malkin.

He was actually more intimidating than Crosby (who was no slouch himself) when the Habs matched up with them in the playoffs in 2010 and 2020. Dude is an absolute machine and seems to turn it up a level when the stakes are high.

The playoffs is one of the few times I would be biased towards a veteran than a younger player. Veterans making simple, smart plays is a big part of what wins games/Cups.

I get you. And I actually did have to think for a moment before voting.

But that 2010 matchup you mentioned was over 14 years ago. Malkin isn't close to his prime any more. And Matthews isn't a "young player" anymore either. He's in his 9th season, is a team captain, and a 3 time Rocket winner.

This is Matthews, unless you just really don't believe anyone can succeed wearing a Maple Leafs sweater.

 

[Stive Morgan]

I get you. And I actually did have to think for a moment before voting.

But that 2010 matchup you mentioned was over 14 years ago. Malkin isn't close to his prime any more. And Matthews isn't a "young player" anymore either. He's in his 9th season, is a team captain, and a 3 time Rocket winner.

This is Matthews, unless you just really don't believe anyone can succeed wearing a Maple Leafs sweater.

Yeah that definitely has to be taken into account. I was just going based off of what I've personally seen of him. I'm sure Metro fans have a better insight.

 

[Midnight Judges]

No disrespect to Matthews, but easily Malkin.

He was actually more intimidating than Crosby (who was no slouch himself) when the Habs matched up with them in the playoffs in 2010 and 2020.

Malkin had 1 powerplay assist in 4 games in the 2020 series.

 

[Stive Morgan]

Malkin had 1 powerplay assist in 4 games in the 2020 series.

He dominated us on the boards though

 

[Regal]

And? The post of yours that I quoted mentioned his stats after 2017, i.e. after he turned 30, which are almost equivalent to Matthews' stats in his prime...

Matthews has never been the postseason player that Malkin is.

This shouldn’t be that difficult. The poll is asking about right now. And right now Malkin is 38 and has been under a point per game since last season. Matthews is a significantly better player who had more goals than Malkin had points last year in the regular season. So the only reason to take Malkin would be if you think he can magically summon his past playoff success to be a better player there. And yet, he hasn’t been able to do that throughout his 30s as seen by the numbers I posted.

Matthews’ playoff production isn’t much better in that same time frame, but it is better. It’s also even better if we take a more recent sample, and he’s been much better defensively in the playoffs. So if Malkin has been a considerably worse regular season player in recent years and also a worse playoff player by a smaller margin in that time frame, why would we assume that he would be the better current playoff option based on what he did years ago in his 20s? We shouldn’t.

 

[TheGoldenJet]

Malkin had 1 powerplay assist in 4 games in the 2020 series.

Numbers don’t tell the whole story. He played well.

Though those playoffs (the first two rounds in particular) were closer to preseason level of hockey than to real playoff hockey. Nobody was in mid-season form due to the extended break.

 

[Jumptheshark]

I get you. And I actually did have to think for a moment before voting.

But that 2010 matchup you mentioned was over 14 years ago. Malkin isn't close to his prime any more. And Matthews isn't a "young player" anymore either. He's in his 9th season, is a team captain, and a 3 time Rocket winner.

This is Matthews, unless you just really don't believe anyone can succeed wearing a Maple Leafs sweater.

Nothing about the jersey but he has never been in the situation

 

[Erik Alfredsson]

Many retired all-star players could lace them up for a game and dominate most current NHL players. It's the recovery time that prevents them for continuing to playing past their 40s.

For a single game? It's Malkin, no contest.

 

[TheNumber4]

Malkin. Too much tummy ache risk with Matthews to rely on him in Game 7.

 

[authentic]

And? The post of yours that I quoted mentioned his stats after 2017, i.e. after he turned 30, which are almost equivalent to Matthews' stats in his prime...

Matthews has never been the postseason player that Malkin is.

Was*

 

[BallardEra]

I don't get the Malkin gobbling. How many of you actually watch this guy play now? Love the guy but he's a shadow of his former self.

 

[Michel Beauchamp]

Malkin had 1 powerplay assist in 4 games in the 2020 series.

We have a stats admirer...

This shouldn’t be that difficult. The poll is asking about right now. And right now Malkin is 38 and has been under a point per game since last season. Matthews is a significantly better player who had more goals than Malkin had points last year in the regular season. So the only reason to take Malkin would be if you think he can magically summon his past playoff success to be a better player there. And yet, he hasn’t been able to do that throughout his 30s as seen by the numbers I posted.

Matthews’ playoff production isn’t much better in that same time frame, but it is better. It’s also even better if we take a more recent sample, and he’s been much better defensively in the playoffs. So if Malkin has been a considerably worse regular season player in recent years and also a worse playoff player by a smaller margin in that time frame, why would we assume that he would be the better current playoff option based on what he did years ago in his 20s? We shouldn’t.

And, I repeat, that's with Matthews in his prime.

One would think that he would dominate, crush Malkin...

 

[Michel Beauchamp]

Was*

Nope, is*

 

[wetcoast]

No disrespect to Matthews, but easily Malkin.

He was actually more intimidating than Crosby (who was no slouch himself) when the Habs matched up with them in the playoffs in 2010 and 2020. Dude is an absolute machine and seems to turn it up a level when the stakes are high.

The playoffs is one of the few times I would be biased towards a veteran than a younger player. Veterans making simple, smart plays is a big part of what wins games/Cups.

Once again we have another poster that can't read the actual OP question, it's for today not 2020, 2009 or any other time in the past.

The fact that Malkin is winning just shows the fact as George Carlin would put it is that

Half the people are dumber than the average person.


Yikes.

 

[Michel Beauchamp]

Once again we have another poster that can't read the actual OP question, it's for today not 2020, 2009 or any other time in the past.

The fact that Malkin is winning just shows the fact as George Carlin would put it is that

Half the people are dumber than the average person.


Yikes.

How do you then explain that Matthews, in his prime, has had barely (if at all) more success than Malkin in his 30s... ?

 

[Stive Morgan]

Once again we have another poster that can't read the actual OP question, it's for today not 2020, 2009 or any other time in the past.

The fact that Malkin is winning just shows the fact as George Carlin would put it is that

Half the people are dumber than the average person.


Yikes.

Did you even read my post? I literally called Malkin a veteran and praised his performance from a few playoffs ago lol. He's still good and experience goes a long way in the playoffs. I don't care if it's 2009, 2017 or 2024, I'd still take him. I've seen him work my team into the ground twice, can't say the same for Matthews. Blowing that 3-1 lead was pretty impressive though, albeit in a different way.

If you disagree that's totally fine, it's just an opinion, but your logic is nonsensical.

Also if you like George Carlin, you're probably a pseudointellectual. I went to UBC so I don't give a f*** what some assclown from HF has to say about my intelligence lmao, I don't need a comedian to tell me how to think.

 

[wetcoast]

Did you even read my post? I literally called Malkin a veteran and praised his performance from a few playoffs ago lol. He's still good and experience goes a long way in the playoffs. I don't care if it's 2009, 2017 or 2024, I'd still take him. I've seen him work my team into the ground twice, can't say the same for Matthews. Blowing that 3-1 lead was pretty impressive though, albeit in a different way.

Malkin is 38 and Matthews is 27.

Last 3 years in the playoffs AM has 24 points in 23 games, Malkin has 12 points in 15 games in spite of the more generous usage and aside from scoring Malkin doesn't really bring anything else to the table.

AM had more goals than Malkin had points last year FFS, just let that sink in.

If you disagree that's totally fine, it's just an opinion, but your logic is nonsensical.

Sure but less so than the obvious Leaf hate ehre and I don't even like the team.

Also if you like George Carlin, you're probably a pseudointellectual.

Oh stop with the flattery it's emberassing.

I went to UBC so I don't give a f*** what some assclown from HF has to say about my intelligence lmao, I don't need a comedian to tell me how to think.

Well it sounds like you are being defensive here wonder why?

But then again I'm from a working class family and went to the high school on the hill as my snobbish High school friends would say.

Also don't be "that guy"

 

[olli]

Matthews has been in the playoffs eight times and managed to record a point per game or better thrice.

Dude folds when the stakes are highest.

And what has Malkin done the last 3 years??

Did you even read my post? I literally called Malkin a veteran and praised his performance from a few playoffs ago lol. He's still good and experience goes a long way in the playoffs. I don't care if it's 2009, 2017 or 2024, I'd still take him. I've seen him work my team into the ground twice, can't say the same for Matthews. Blowing that 3-1 lead was pretty impressive though, albeit in a different way.

If you disagree that's totally fine, it's just an opinion, but your logic is nonsensical.

Also if you like George Carlin, you're probably a pseudointellectual. I went to UBC so I don't give a f*** what some assclown from HF has to say about my intelligence lmao, I don't need a comedian to tell me how to think.

Buddy I don’t think you understand how much better of a hockey player Matthews is and every single part of the game. We’re talking about a 27 year old vs a 38 year old who will both have similar level peaks and careers when all is said and done.

 

[authentic]

And what has Malkin done the last 3 years??


Buddy I don’t think you understand how much better of a hockey player Matthews is and every single part of the game. We’re talking about a 27 year old vs a 38 year old who will both have similar level peaks and careers when all is said and done.

Mathew’s defensive play alone in the last 4 playoffs is enough for me to take him over current Malkin quite honestly.

 

[olli]

Mathew’s defensive play alone in the last 4 playoffs is enough for me to take him over current Malkin quite honestly.

Buddy Matthews is twice the player Malkin has been defensively the last 4 years. I hate the leafs but part of me can’t wait for Matthews to put up a goal per game playoff run.

 

[EdJovanovski]

Malkin AINEC

 

[Shane Diesel]

And what has Malkin done the last 3 years??

Evgeni Malkin Playoffs

For those who think it's easier to annoy you than to Google 'Evgeni malkin playoffs' themselves.

letmegooglethat.com

12 points in 15 games.