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

[bobholly39]

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.

I voted Matthews. but I don't think quite as highly of him for playoffs. Only 5 players ahead?

His playoff reputation hurts him a lot.

I'd say there's probably a good ~10-15 players I'd pick before him for a game 7 (not even counting goalies). Especially if we're choosing this blind - if we were choosing this after game 6 of the stanley cup finals, in a playoff run where Matthews is finally playing to his potential - maybe your assessment is closer.

 

[Caps8112]

Think this should be Matthews and I voted for him. If he is in game 7 of the finals today he has obviously figured out playoff hockey and is likely on a conn smythe type run carrying the leafs as he should. While Malkin today is still amazing I doubt that if he is in game 7 of the finals today he is carrying the pens. At his age, no matter how unfair he probably is more of a contributor then a game breaker.

 

[Luigi Lemieux]

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.

He's lead the playoffs twice in scoring. How many players in history have done that?

 

[Ignatius]

Malkin would likely get up for that game and when Geno is on, even at 38, I would not want to be the team opposing his team.

I love AM34 but 71 has the track record.

 

[TheGoldenJet]

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

Good points, just wanted to add that Malkin has been to the Final a total of four times, not three.