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*