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

[Regal]

Maybe others, but I'll admit I didn't read beyond the title and was like this isn't fair to Matthews, but given now what I know I'd probably have to go Matthews.

Matthews has 29 points in his last 30, so not that much more of a production


It's playoffs where Matthews quiets down

Playoff production tends to even out relative to the regular season over enough games for 90% of players. Maybe Matthews isn’t someone who is ever going to match his regular season production, but the difference in their abilities at this point in their careers is too big to ignore.

 

[authentic]

Maybe others, but I'll admit I didn't read beyond the title and was like this isn't fair to Matthews, but given now what I know I'd probably have to go Matthews.

Matthews has 29 points in his last 30, so not that much more of a production


It's playoffs where Matthews quiets down

I mean if you consider points only you can pretend they’re somewhat close.

 

[Connor McConnor]

These results are hilarious. But to be fair, the poll in general invited these sort of results and id bet my life savings if gun to head 90% of the people voting Malkin would take AM

 

[Video Nasty]

Also I don’t believe this board wants to entertain how good Matthews has been in the playoffs defensively despite his team not advancing, and he has had very dominant overall series recently where he scored more than every Tampa player both times while being a two-way beast. That Matthews is coming out on top against just about anyone in the NHL, let alone against a 38 year old Malkin.



Did you watch Matthews against Tampa? He slaughters any recent play by Malkin and likely even more so now that Malkin is inching closer towards 40.

It should be a slam dunk for Matthews. The fact that any of us is questioning him is a failure on his part, not ours.

 

[VistamarCroissants]

These results are hilarious. But to be fair, the poll in general invited these sort of results and id bet my life savings if gun to head 90% of the people voting Malkin would take AM

Why?
Malkin has been there and done it.
Taking Matthews for Game seven is a gamble.

This not a regular season game. You guys tend to forget that

 

[Jumptheshark]

Both healthy in 2025, you can take one player for the final game that matters.

Matthews - 27YO
Malkin - 38YO

Not trolling leaf fans here but I think Matthews has gotten to the 2nd round once in his career and Malkin 3 times to the final and has played 20+ playoffs games in 4 different playoffs. Malkin 177 playofff games vs Matthews 55.

Geno is a just a little below a ppg player this year with 22 pts in 25 games.

Whether we like it or not, come playoff time you go with experience and with the guys who have won


I think a Geno vs McDAvid one could be a fun debate

 

[ViD]

Matthews is a much better player in 2024. So him.

He’s asking about 2025

 

[Mike C]

Ridiculous results. Matthews is a considerably better player in 2024. And Malkin hasn’t done anything of note in the playoffs since 2017. He has 23 points in his last 28 games in the playoffs.

Matthews is a playoff stud??

 

[Evergreen]

Come on, guys.

 

[heretik27]

It should be a slam dunk for Matthews. The fact that any of us is questioning him is a failure on his part, not ours.

The fact that Malkin in his prime years could be absolutely dominated by the Bruins in the 2013 ECF should be enough to disprove that he's some unstoppable force in the playoffs. If people think the guy that got shut down back then is somehow a better option more than 10 years later in his late 30's than a guy who just put up 69 goals last season and is in his prime I just don't know what to say.

 

[benfranklin]

The point of the thread came from another thread about GM's valuing "playoff experience". I argued that while maybe the majority would take the obviously better player today (Matthews), GM's and other posters would have an internal argument about playoff experience of a proven vet who has won (Malkin).

Honestly, point for me, the results were as I predicted.

 

[leafsfan5]

Why?
Malkin has been there and done it.
Taking Matthews for Game seven is a gamble.

This not a regular season game. You guys tend to forget that

The Malkin you're thinking of is gone

 

[GrumpyKoala]

So where are they traded to?

 

[VistamarCroissants]

The Malkin you're thinking of is gone

23 PTS in 25 this season?

Not bad for a vet.

I'd refer you to my earlier post where I pointed out his experience in winning multiple Cups is a very important factor for the rest of the team.

Malkin is not expected to outscore Matthews, but he would certainly be a greater team leader on and off the ice in game 7.

 

[benfranklin]

So where are they traded to?

I probably should have put that in. Remove the Penguins/Leafs jerseys and take the human and the brain and the hands they have in 2025 and put them on Utah and Columbus or whatever teams wont be hated on for whatever reasons.

One game to win the Cup. Do you take the obviously higher skilled player or the guy with experience?

 

[VistamarCroissants]

I probably should have put that in. Remove the Penguins/Leafs jerseys and take the human and the brain and the hands they have in 2025 and put them on Utah and Columbus or whatever teams wont be hated on for whatever reasons.

One game to win the Cup. Do you take the obviously higher skilled player or the guy with experience?

Experience. Psychological advantage

 

[wintersej]

I'm taking the guy who has been there before multiple times. Age doesn't matter in a single game, and Malkin is still scoring anyway.

I mean did they have to win the first 15 games to get there? That takes a TOLL. If it’s just dropping them both in fresh, sure.

 

[Regal]

Matthews is a playoff stud??

No. But that’s irrelevant when Malkin isn’t either in 2024. Matthews has been better in both the regular season and playoffs in recent years. Sure his playoffs are disappointing relative to expectations, but that doesn’t mean Malkin’s going to suddenly find the fountain of youth at 38.

 

[authentic]

No. But that’s irrelevant when Malkin isn’t either in 2024. Matthews has been better in both the regular season and playoffs in recent years. Sure his playoffs are disappointing relative to expectations, but that doesn’t mean Malkin’s going to suddenly find the fountain of youth at 38.

That’s his playoff resume as a whole. In those series mentioned which are 4 out of 9 in his career he was elite. If he was this sub par performer 24/7 in the post season like Thornton back in the day I could begin to understand somewhat how anyone takes a 38 year old Malkin over him.

 

[Byron Bitz]

To be honest there are only a handful of players in the league I would take for one SC final game 7 over Matthews. McD, Mack, Leon, Makar, Kucherov…that’s probably it, maybe Shesterkin or Hellebyuck if we’re including goalies. Definitely not 38 year old Malkin.

 

[Letsdothis]

Malkin is not in the "experience wins in playoffs" stage of his career. He's in the stage where whatever is left of his game likely disappears when guys 15 years younger than him start playing with full intensity. E.G. Ovechkin or Pavelski last year, Jagr in every playoff after turning 40.