Jack Eichel is quietly becoming a top-5 player in the league

[Beerz]

Don't expect Eichel's shot to normalize to his career percentages. He worked on his shot over the summer it appears and he's become elite in that regard. I wouldn't be surprised if his shooting percentage going forward stays above 13-14 percent.

Yes, he probably won't finish with 55 goals and 116 points.

But also note that a lot of the other top guys also have high shooting percentages: McDavid, Pastrnak, Draisaitl, Panarin, Marchand to name a few (all 18-20%)

There is no question that he has been a top 5 player so far this year.

It more has to do with where those shots are coming from. He is driving to the net more, he is parking in front of the net more ... he is taking much better shots and being way more aggressive in creating his shots as opposed to standing still and waiting for a one timer to develop

 

[Beukeboom]

Has he suddenly become a top five player in the league, or is he just a good player on a hot streak? Not arguing that Eichel is indeed a great player, but I don't think these 34 games change my opinion I've built of him over the last few seasons all that much.

Yeah, he's on pace for a career high 55 goals, a total that would smash his previous record of 28 with ease. But he's also shooting at 18.7% this year, which is 8% higher than his career average of 10.7%. For context, if he'd been shooting at his career average pace of 10.7%, he would have 13 goals this year, for a total of 13-25-38 across 34 games, basically the same rate he produced at last season. It's not like Eichel (or other players for that matter), haven't gone on streaks like this before. Just last season, Eichel had a 31 game stretch early in the season where he produced 12 goals and 33 assists for 45 points. Predictably, the jets cooled off a bit, he had a few less productive patches, and finished with a still great, but not top-five player total of 82 points in 78 games.

Eichel currently has 23 goals on 11.89 expected goals, meaning he's nearly doubled his expected output. Now that can be partially attributed to his shooting talent, but generally, you don't sustain that kind of production. In addition, his most frequent linemates, Sam Reinhart & Victor Olofsson, are outscoring expectations by 5.91 and 4.40 goals respectively, which is probably bolstering his assist totals.

I just don't see this stretch of play from Eichel as indicative of a leap into the top-five of the league, as much as a great #1C who is on a heater, in a league subject to lots of random variance, and dare I say, luck, in small sample sizes, on both team & individual levels.

The problem with advanced statistics is that it only works after a fact. For instance, when Mackinnon made his leap from one level to the next, all the statistics showed it was only a hot streak and not possible to maintain, until he suddenly had maintained it for long enough for it to be the new norm. Now all of a sudden, the statistics proved he could indeed be scoring at that pace.

Eichel has always had patches here and there, that have shown what kind of player he has the potential to be. A great player turns these occasions in to a norm.

Edit: Advanced statistics when used in hockey I should say.

 

[authentic]

Has he suddenly become a top five player in the league, or is he just a good player on a hot streak? Not arguing that Eichel is indeed a great player, but I don't think these 34 games change my opinion I've built of him over the last few seasons all that much.

Yeah, he's on pace for a career high 55 goals, a total that would smash his previous record of 28 with ease. But he's also shooting at 18.7% this year, which is 8% higher than his career average of 10.7%. For context, if he'd been shooting at his career average pace of 10.7%, he would have 13 goals this year, for a total of 13-25-38 across 34 games, basically the same rate he produced at last season. It's not like Eichel (or other players for that matter), haven't gone on streaks like this before. Just last season, Eichel had a 31 game stretch early in the season where he produced 12 goals and 33 assists for 45 points. Predictably, the jets cooled off a bit, he had a few less productive patches, and finished with a still great, but not top-five player total of 82 points in 78 games.

Eichel currently has 23 goals on 11.89 expected goals, meaning he's nearly doubled his expected output. Now that can be partially attributed to his shooting talent, but generally, you don't sustain that kind of production. In addition, his most frequent linemates, Sam Reinhart & Victor Olofsson, are outscoring expectations by 5.91 and 4.40 goals respectively, which is probably bolstering his assist totals.

I just don't see this stretch of play from Eichel as indicative of a leap into the top-five of the league, as much as a great #1C who is on a heater, in a league subject to lots of random variance, and dare I say, luck, in small sample sizes, on both team & individual levels.

The thing is he clearly looks like a top 5 player if not better, and this is literally the exact type of player he was projected to be. There isn't a single aspect of his game that isn't absolutely elite except defense, but apparently he's much better there now as well.

 

[Shootica]

The title of this post will say 'Top 3' by the end of the year.

 

[Wayward Son]

Feels like he was always overlooked because of the Sabres struggles. Mackinnon level player and I only say that because no one seems to be able touch McDavid.

 

[GirardSpinorama]

Eichel is certainly proving me wrong! But he needs to keep it up and not cool down.

 

[Neutral Hockey Fan]

24 pages of this thread and literally every single person, with only a couple exceptions, coming in here to trash talk Eichel have the word leafs in their username, or post exclusively in leaf threads. I’m shocked.

not sure why they are though. I mean, Matthews is matching his career norm in what is one of his peak scoring-age seasons, with a pace of 45 goals and 82 points over 82 games (same as his last 2 seasons, with no improvement in his overall game). Good numbers, no doubt, but why try and build Matthews to be up on Eichel’s level? It makes no sense

 

[VictorLustig]

Eichel is such a unique player. His strength and balance while handling the puck is remarkable. You could easily argue he's a top 5 player but there are many good ones to choose from..

 

[TheDawnOfANewTage]

Obviously I can't be objective on this, but at least I'm aware of that fact. So that said..

1. McDavid.
2.Mac
3.Eichel/Pasta/Calrson/Marchand/Drai/Kuch?

Like, arguments could be made for those 6 to be in all sorts of orders, so I really don't care to insist on a ranking.. but I'd have it in that order . You simply can't properly gauge how much the Boston and Edmonton two-headed beasts boost each other's play and totals. Carlson and Kuch both on strong teams. I like the Sabres roster this year, but hey, it's also the year Eich is going off. Were it not for injuries and poor teams/situations, might Jack have been rated higher earlier?

Lol, sorry, that's my sales pitch. I really don't care to argue it, would like to see others rank those guys though? Once again, lotta different arguments/points to be made so I totally understand that most people will have it vastly different. Wondering if I missed anyone as well.

 

[zenthusiast]

The problem with advanced statistics is that it only works after a fact. For instance, when Mackinnon made his leap from one level to the next, all the statistics showed it was only a hot streak and not possible to maintain, until he suddenly had maintained it for long enough for it to be the new norm. Now all of a sudden, the statistics proved he could indeed be scoring at that pace.

Eichel has always had patches here and there, that have shown what kind of player he has the potential to be. A great player turns these occasions in to a norm.

Edit: Advanced statistics when used in hockey I should say.

It's not as much a failure of the metrics as it is a failure of the user. Even the big twitter statheads overlook lurking variables to an extreme degree

 

[Dotter]

Eichel is tied 4th in points with players under 25 while maintaining a respectable plus/minus in that class. He's also tied 2nd in goal scoring all while being a slick player. This screams top 5 to me. One could make a valid argument being top 3.

Such a stud. Wish he was on my team.

 

[Doohickie]

As for Olofsson being the best rookie on the sabres since RM well ....I’d suggest that even just last year an 18 year old Rasmus Dahlin having a historic season ahead of Bobby Orr as the second best 18 yr old ever averaging 21 mins a night, and a corsi rating of 57 in all situations, with 9G 44 Pts on a poor team all while being on one of the lowest scoring, worst teams in the NHL.

Dahlin had a pretty good year, and a very good one as am 18-year-old defenseman, but he also made of ton of defensive gaffes. He will be one of the greatest, but at 18 he wasn't there yet. I still maintain that if Olofsson keeps up his current scoring pace his rookie campaign will be viewed as much better than Dahlin's.

 

[Doohickie]

I don’t really know who expects one guy to bring a team to the playoffs when mcdavids only done that once is the four previous years WITH drai...

But that was the point of the tank: To get that franchise player that would lead them back to the playoffs. You're right of course that hockey is a team game and each skater plays a fraction of the game, but I think fans in Buffalo thought that once we got Eich we'd be all set. Expectations were, and still are, very high. (Just like the Bills getting their franchise QB in Josh Allen would be the answer to all their prayers.... Well yeah, plus the defense that's been built prior to his arrival, plus the receivers they'll pick up in the coming draft.)

 

[Tage2Tuch]

Dahlin had a pretty good year, and a very good one as am 18-year-old defenseman, but he also made of ton of defensive gaffes. He will be one of the greatest, but at 18 he wasn't there yet. I still maintain that if Olofsson keeps up his current scoring pace his rookie campaign will be viewed as much better than Dahlin's.

Of course he made a bunch of mistakes, he was averaging 21 minutes a night in a ooor defensive/goaltending/overall team and he was 18! He plays a high risk game, he was a kid in a mans league, still getting use to the ice. Even the best defensemen today who are men and score 65 pts make a lot of those errors, Norris trophy winning dmen do, Gio last year, Carlson this year, if you don’t think PK made a ton in his Norris year I don’t know what to say? That’s their game it’s high risk. Holding Dahlin back because of his miscues last season if pretty unfair given the responsibility of his position, the age, the team his style and everything else.I mean We’re comparing a winger to a defensemen here. Wingers by default out of every position have it the easiest. They didn’t have to be the first man back and can do their thing.

And Claiming last year had just a “Very good season for an 18 year old dman” ,...well.....that’s quite he understatement of the century.

He finished second ever ahead of BOBBY ORR....I repeat....BOBBY ORR....who was third, .....on a POOR team, in THIS day and age, and Orr didn’t have to get used to a new culture or ice surface. Not suggesting he’s even or will even get close to Orr because that’s ridiculous but for an 18 year old dman breaking his season in ANY circumstance let alone the one he was in is impressive. I respect your opinion but his season wasn’t “Very good” for an 18 year old, it was historic. I really don’t know if you realize how impressive it was given the situation and if he was on a high scoring team or got top powerplay time playing the exact same way even with those defensive errors he potentially could of Broke 60-65 points. But it really doesent matter that he didn’t, as far as giving what he was able to do justice, if he put up that same season in Toronto or some other mainstream team that made the playoffs I’m sure he would of even win the Calder or finished a high second I mean forward beat him who only had like 20 more points, and top powerplay time... Think about that.

Olofsson doesent have to worry about that because he not a defensemen and again had rode shotgun with a beast jack Eichel all year, I don’t really know if you’re understanding that. Olofsson has been dynamite, the second best player this season for Buffalo and for sure he’s helped Jacks game too so I’m not forgetting that either but again a wingers life compared to a dman, it’s just so different in terms of responsibility that to say he wasn’t there yet and olofsson is, is totally unfair. Especially since olofsson isn’t even 18. (Never mind the position difference)

But it’s all good man, we can think how we want to think that’s the great thing about opinions. I’m not saying dahlin was so far ahead of olofsson either I’m just asking you to consider the circumstances and the facts behind it all. Anyway this is kind of steering it off topic so I’m going to end the post with something back on topic and the following is not in response to you but just in regards to the rest of the thread, have a good day man I’m gone the day, please don’t take anything I said as an insult or like you don’t get the game, I just am asking you to consider the responsibility and the magnitude of the positions, teams and the vast difference in very good and historic. So again this next part is just to get back on topic, talk to you later.



I don’t know if Jack keeps his pace today against the leafs, this seems like a game he would likely normally dominate so I think it’s actually a perfect game for it to stop unfortunately. I could see Matthews getting the better of him tonight u fortunately. Hope I’m wrong of course. Either way it’s been a great ride and if he remains healthy he’s going to finish in the top ten at least and to me that’s enough!

 

[93LEAFS]

Of course he made a bunch of mistakes, he was averaging 21 minutes a night in a ooor defensive/goaltending/overall team and he was 18! He plays a high risk game, he was a kid in a mans league, still getting use to the ice. Even the best defensemen today who are men and score 65 pts make a lot of those errors, Norris trophy winning dmen do, Gio last year, Carlson this year, if you don’t think PK made a ton in his Norris year I don’t know what to say? That’s their game it’s high risk. Holding Dahlin back because of his miscues last season if pretty unfair given the responsibility of his position, the age, the team, his style and everything else. We’re comparing a winger to a defensemen here. Wingers by default out of every position have it the easiest. They didn’t have to be the first man back and can do their thing.

And Claiming last year had just a “Very good season for an 18 year old dman” ,...well.....that’s quite he understatement of the century.

He finished second ever ahead of BOBBY ORR....I repeat....BOBBY ORR....who was third, .....on a POOR team, in THIS day and age, and Orr didn’t have to get used to a new culture or ice surface. Not suggesting he’s even or will even get close to Orr because that’s ridiculous but for an 18 year old dman breaking his season in ANY circumstance let alone the one he was in is impressive. I respect your opinion but his season wasn’t “Very good” for an 18 year old, it was historic. I really don’t know if you realize how impressive it was given the situation and if he was on a high scoring team or got top powerplay time playing the exact same way even with those defensive errors he potentially could of Broke 60-65 points. But it really doesent matter that he didn’t, as far as giving what he was able to do justice, if he put up that same season in Toronto or some other mainstream team that made the playoffs I’m sure he would of even win the Calder or finished a high second I mean forward beat him who only had like 20 more points, and top powerplay time... Think about that.

Olofsson doesent have to worry about that because he not a defensemen and again had rode shotgun with a beast jack Eichel all year, I don’t really know if you’re understanding that. Olofsson has been dynamite, the second best player this season for Buffalo and has actually helped Eichels
Game too, not forgetting that either but again a wingers life compared to a dman, it’s just so different. But it’s all good man, we can think how we want to think that’s the great thing about opinions. I’m not saying dahlin was so far ahead of olofsson either I’m just asking you to consider the circumstances and the facts behind it all.

He got 5 more points than Ekblad did at 18 and Ekblad had more non-PP points in a league that was slightly lower-scoring. What Dahlin did was impressive, but it wasn't some crazy unseen performance like you are framing it as.

Comparing stats of players who played in 1966-67 to now is disingenuous. One, Orr played 21 less games, his ppg was significantly higher in a significantly lower scoring era for D-men. Two, he was only behind a Hall of Famer in Pilote in points among D-men with 52 points, last year we had 4 over 70 and another 2 over 60. I mean, it'd be the same if I beat down what Dahlin pointing to what Housley did in an absurdly high-scoring era.

 

[Chimpradamus]

Dahlin had a pretty good year, and a very good one as am 18-year-old defenseman, but he also made of ton of defensive gaffes. He will be one of the greatest, but at 18 he wasn't there yet. I still maintain that if Olofsson keeps up his current scoring pace his rookie campaign will be viewed as much better than Dahlin's.

You can't compare the rookie season of a 24 year old forward with a 18 year old defenseman, just like that. When Olofsson was 18 years old, he played 8 games for Timrå in the SEL, scoring 2 goals. I'm pretty sure Dahlin would've had a very impressive rookie season if he waited until 24 to play in the NHL.

 

[Tage2Tuch]

He got 5 more points than Ekblad did at 18 and Ekblad had more non-PP points in a league that was slightly lower-scoring. What Dahlin did was impressive, but it wasn't some crazy unseen performance like you are framing it as.

Comparing stats of players who played in 1966-67 to now is disingenuous. One, Orr played 21 less games, his ppg was significantly higher in a significantly lower scoring era for D-men. Two, he was only behind a Hall of Famer in Pilote in points among D-men with 52 points, last year we had 4 over 70 and another 2 over 60. I mean, it'd be the same if I beat down what Dahlin pointing to what Housley did in an absurdly high-scoring era.

Interesting you say that im framing it as historic when I got most of the facts from an unbiased NHL twitter page that posted how historic dahlins rookie season was. You didn’t watch it all and why try and make it sound bad when discussing an amazing number one overall draft picks rookie season, Ekblads team went to the playoffs that year helped by that one season Dahlin has five more pints then humans you said, it would of been way more on another team with top PP time which he didn’t originally get so whatever? He didn’t have to learn on the fly a different culture or ice surface and didn’t have an overall corsi percentage of 57 in all situations never mind the fact Ekblad got top powerplay time and Dahlin didn’t.

You act like I’m making it something historic when the NHL called it just that as he finished ahead of Bobby Orr for the second greatest dman season on a bad bufffalo team at the age of 18. Those are just facts. Not just my opinion. I’m sure you’re going to come back with numbers in a desperate attempt to make your opinion fact.

See the difference here is in listing facts. You’re listing an opinion. I wasn’t making it sound lik anything other then it was, it WAS historic, the best in over quarter of a century, and better then a top three player of all times season on a good team, while buffalo was a bad team....those are facts.shame, I actually used to think you were a sound, unbiased poster in here but seeing the things you’ve tried to argue Matthews over Eichel and now trying to discredit Dahlin and make it sound like I’m trying to paint a picture when I’m repeating stuff I got from unbiased news sources (and because I ya know...watched it) and YOU actually aren’t the one taking into account everything, I’ve got a different mindset of you altogether now which is fine, it’s actually a good thing because NOW I know who I’m talking to now at least and what your objective actually is. It’s not to debate. It’s to try and discredit anything Eichel or Dahlin which is all you’ve shown me and doing it with opinions without watching them over facts with watching them. All the credibility you have in the world can’t override that.

Do you really not get that I was talking about in contrast to rookie seasons with the other poster with how Dahlin had way more responsibility with his position as an 18 yr old dman, compared to someone who isn’t 18 and is a winger in olofsson riding first line and top powerplay with a hart trophy favourite? It’s a completely different realm of responsibility on the ice....so that’s all
This was about (and Relax I said “a hart trophy favourite” not “THE hart trophy favourite”) but I’m sure you’re going to tell me Next I’m making up hart trophy favourite too when Odogg, TSN, sportsnet and just about anyone in the continent with eyes have been labelling him as this far due i his 200 foot game being impeccable, one of the best defensive forwards This year amongst high scores. Just helping with that tidbit before you try and discredit him again too) But that’s beside the point ...this is about the responsibility of a dman compared to a winger and age amongst facts that called it historic. You really need to get off the train of trying to devalue historic season/elite players you don’t want to see succeed.

The whole comparison of oloffson and dahlins pertaining to responsibility was the foundation of this discussion. DThat was the basis of the argument, as a winger you have the least amount of responsibility possible on the ice. As a defensemen you have the most. It isn’t close. And I’m not suggesting it was historic for theatrical value, I’m calling it what It was. He would of had a lot more points the. Ekblad then just five on a different team or with top PP time playing the same way but I guess fact and circumstance eludes you from trying to discredit these sabre players at any cost,
Because you think I’m overblowing the situation. Just like you thought I was overblowing Eichel all these Years. Ps-Ekblad was amazing in his rookie season, and again didn’t have to learn the ice, culture and had top PP time. Completely different situation. And now I’m going to get accused of overblowing a kid who finishes ahead of Orr as the second best rookie season ever and the best in about 30 years for his age? Yeah. I’m just blowing it out of proportion and I’m not just sitting here handing out facts.

While YOU on the other hand seem like you’re going out of your way (hellbent) without having seen it all (his season) coming in Here wth our “well it was only five more Pts then Ekblad mAn! “Quit calling it historic!” (Meanwhile it was historic, the NHL called it that and showed why, so Come on man... you’re better then that, Get off it. I’m stating facts here. Whatever bias you had against Eichel and Dahlin is becoming petty at this point. Which is why no matter what you reply with I’m done here with this conversation.

You can't compare the rookie season of a 24 year old forward with a 18 year old defenseman, just like that. When Olofsson was 18 years old, he played 8 games for Timrå in the SEL, scoring 2 goals. I'm pretty sure Dahlin would've had a very impressive rookie season if he waited until 24 to play in the NHL.

Thank you, I can tell you’re someone who knows what they’re talking about.

And I’m not even throwing shade at olofsson , I’ve called him the second best Sabre and the seasons aren’t night and day dicfeeent I’m simply just just stating the contrast in responsibility (like you’ve pointed out) and why Dahlins “historic rookie season” (like the NHL called it and showed why it was such) NOT just me. Some thought I was trying to blow up Eichels potential too when all I’ve ever done is list facts. And I’ve got a big smile on my face knowing that what I’m saying is true.

I’m glad you support this stance. Good
Day sir. It’s refreshing to see logic and the understanding of circumstance and how it can effect overall perception!

 

[Melkor]

Shouldn’t he be?? I mean he was drafted second overall behind the best player of the generation.

Bobby Ryan was drafted second overall behind probably the best player of his generation and ended up being your average top-6 forward. So what?

 

[93LEAFS]

Interesting you say that im framing it as historic when I got most of the facts from an unbiased NHL twitter page that posted how historic dahlins rookie season was. You didn’t watch it all and why try and make it sound bad when discussing an amazing number one overall draft picks rookie season, Ekblads team went to the playoffs that year helped by that one season Dahlin has five more pints then humans you said, it would of been way more on another team with top PP time which he didn’t originally get so whatever? He didn’t have to learn on the fly a different culture or ice surface and didn’t have an overall corsi percentage of 57 in all situations never mind the fact Ekblad got top powerplay time and Dahlin didn’t.

You act like I’m making it something historic when the NHL called it just that as he finished ahead of Bobby Orr for the second greatest dman season on a bad bufffalo team at the age of 18. Those are just facts. Not just my opinion. I’m sure you’re going to come back with numbers in a desperate attempt to make your opinion fact.

See the difference here is in listing facts. You’re listing an opinion. I wasn’t making it sound lik anything other then it was, it WAS historic, the best in over quarter of a century, and better then a top three player of all times season on a good team, while buffalo was a bad team....those are facts.shame, I actually used to think you were a sound, unbiased poster in here but seeing the things you’ve tried to argue Matthews over Eichel and now trying to discredit Dahlin and make it sound like I’m trying to paint a picture when I’m repeating stuff I got from unbiased news sources (and because I ya know...watched it) and YOU actually aren’t the one taking into account everything, I’ve got a different mindset of you altogether now which is fine, it’s actually a good thing because NOW I know who I’m talking to now at least and what your objective actually is. It’s not to debate. It’s to try and discredit anything Eichel or Dahlin which is all you’ve shown me and doing it with opinions without watching them over facts with watching them. All the credibility you have in the world can’t override that.

Do you really not get that I was talking about in contrast to rookie seasons with the other poster with how Dahlin had way more responsibility with his position as an 18 yr old dman, compared to someone who isn’t 18 and is a winger in olofsson riding first line and top powerplay with a hart trophy favourite? It’s a completely different realm of responsibility on the ice....so that’s all
This was about (and Relax I said “a hart trophy favourite” not “THE hart trophy favourite”) but I’m sure you’re going to tell me Next I’m making up hart trophy favourite too when Odogg, TSN, sportsnet and just about anyone in the continent with eyes have been labelling him as this far due i his 200 foot game being impeccable, one of the best defensive forwards This year amongst high scores. Just helping with that tidbit before you try and discredit him again too) But that’s beside the point ...this is about the responsibility of a dman compared to a winger and age amongst facts that called it historic. You really need to get off the train of trying to devalue historic season/elite players you don’t want to see succeed.

The whole comparison of oloffson and dahlins pertaining to responsibility was the foundation of this discussion. DThat was the basis of the argument, as a winger you have the least amount of responsibility possible on the ice. As a defensemen you have the most. It isn’t close. And I’m not suggesting it was historic for theatrical value, I’m calling it what It was. He would of had a lot more points the. Ekblad then just five on a different team or with top PP time playing the same way but I guess fact and circumstance eludes you from trying to discredit these sabre players at any cost,
Because you think I’m overblowing the situation. Just like you thought I was overblowing Eichel all these Years. Ps-Ekblad was amazing in his rookie season, and again didn’t have to learn the ice, culture and had top PP time. Completely different situation. And now I’m going to get accused of overblowing a kid who finishes ahead of Orr as the second best rookie season ever and the best in about 30 years for his age? Yeah. I’m just blowing it out of proportion and I’m not just sitting here handing out facts.

While YOU on the other hand seem like you’re going out of your way (hellbent) without having seen it all (his season) coming in Here wth our “well it was only five more Pts then Ekblad mAn! “Quit calling it historic!” (Meanwhile it was historic, the NHL called it that and showed why, so Come on man... you’re better then that, Get off it. I’m stating facts here. Whatever bias you had against Eichel and Dahlin is becoming petty at this point. Which is why no matter what you reply with I’m done here with this conversation.

Wow, quite the meltdown.

And, no, historical factors matter. Orr finished second in points among D-men that year, Dahlin finished 23rd. Like what you said, that is a fact. But, guess what, also a very misleading one, because there are now 150 more defencemen who play regularly than there were in 1966-67. If you honestly think that is a better 18-year-old season than Orr's, I don't know what to say. I mean, Orr won the Calder, finished 3rd in Norris voting and 6th in Hart voting.

I mean, to the bolded, if you are going to rant about facts and opinion. At least get your facts in order. Hint, Florida didn't make the playoffs and Ekblad got pretty much equal time as Dahlin on the PP (Dahlin got 5 minutes more).

 

[AvroArrow]

He's been phenomenal so far. Hoping the leafs can get the W tonight and stop his momentum. The guy is pretty much carrying the Sabres into a playoff spot by himself. If Buffalo makes the playoffs he's winning the Hart easily.

 

[Tage2Tuch]

Wow, quite the meltdown.

And, no, historical factors matter. Orr finished second in points among D-men that year, Dahlin finished 23rd. Like what you said, that is a fact. But, guess what, also a very misleading one, because there are now 150 more defencemen who play regularly than there were in 1966-67. If you honestly think that is a better 18-year-old season than Orr's, I don't know what to say. I mean, Orr won the Calder, finished 3rd in Norris voting and 6th in Hart voting.

I mean, to the bolded, if you are going to rant about facts and opinion. At least get your facts in order. Hint, Florida didn't make the playoffs and Ekblad got pretty much equal time as Dahlin on the PP (Dahlin got 5 minutes more).

Well I had the facts on Dahlin, the ones on ekblad, seemed to slip my memory with PP time and as far as playoffs which he made a year later after his rookie season (his second year) which again would be what Dahlin does should Buffalo make it this year and that’s where I got confused, because he was very young when Florida made it.

I’m replying because I’m wrong when it comes to that. But I’m not the one
Trying to discredit anyone here, so there’s that.



As for the leafs sabres tonight, I fully expect Matthews to outplay Eichel because they’re so close even if other sabres fans in here have said they’re not (ridiculous) and I’m also not saying this in hopes of reverse jinx lol. I’m saying it because Eichel is human. And Matthews has something to prove. He’s being ripped by Toronto media right now even with the 19 goals, O’Neill Mclean and the host sizzle? Not sure the name went to town.

 

[93LEAFS]

Well I had the facts on Dahlin, the ones on ekblad, seemed to slip my memory with PP time and as far as playoffs which he made two years in and that’s where I got confused, because he was very young when Florida made it.

I’m replying because I’m wrong when it comes to that. But I’m not the one
Trying to discredit anyone here, so there’s that.

I mean, you are saying he had a better 18-year-old season than Orr. If your only measure points, fine. But, that's such a simplistic argument its pointless. Orr was voted 6th in Hart voting, 3rd in Norris voting and won the Calder. They also only played 70 games in 1966-67. So, you are comparing point totals from an era where they played 12 fewer games. I don't think you can seriously claim it was a better season.

Ekblad entered the league only 4 years earlier and had a very comparable season. Hopefully, for Sabres fans, he doesn't stagnate as long as Ekblad did.

 

[Auston Marlander]

Looks like he is finally coming into his own which is great for the game (and horrible for me as a Leafs fan). Nice ot see after what I think many, including himself would consider a mediocore start to his career. He;ll of a tear he is on.

 

[Trade]

Just wait another month or so and this thread title will probably be changed to "Jack Eichel is Quietly Becoming a top-5 Player ALL TIME!"

 

[sabremike]

Wow, quite the meltdown.

And, no, historical factors matter. Orr finished second in points among D-men that year, Dahlin finished 23rd. Like what you said, that is a fact. But, guess what, also a very misleading one, because there are now 150 more defencemen who play regularly than there were in 1966-67. If you honestly think that is a better 18-year-old season than Orr's, I don't know what to say. I mean, Orr won the Calder, finished 3rd in Norris voting and 6th in Hart voting.

I mean, to the bolded, if you are going to rant about facts and opinion. At least get your facts in order. Hint, Florida didn't make the playoffs and Ekblad got pretty much equal time as Dahlin on the PP (Dahlin got 5 minutes more).

In all of rookie scoring Petterson was first. Tkachuck was second. Dahlin was a single point behind in 3rd. Did I happen to mention both those other guys are forwards?