IF the Jets had the No. 1 pick in the 2016 draft and pondered whether to select Matthews or Laine, I suspect Chevy would still have chosen Laine at No. 1 with Laine's Finnish background and memories of Teemu Selannie plusses for drawing in fans. Back then, the Jets' center positions had Mark Scheifele as their top center with Bryan Litte at No. 2 and Mathieu Perreault at No. 3. Both Mark and Bryan are tall centers while the Leafs had Tyler Bozak (not tall) and Nazim Kadri (not tall). This fact made Shanahan and Lamorello pick the tall beefy Matthews as No. 1, beside, they would incur a potential uproar from irate Leafs' fans if he wasn't chosen No. 1 overall.
Matthews is injury prone compared to Laine so far. Stats-wise, Laine scored 37 in 2016 and 38 so far this season = 75 goals total. Matthews scored 40 in 2016 plus 28 so far this year = 68. Winner = Jets.
Matthews is injury prone compared to Laine so far. Stats-wise, Laine scored 37 in 2016 and 38 so far this season = 75 goals total. Matthews scored 40 in 2016 plus 28 so far this year = 68. Winner = Jets.
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