- Jan 22, 2007
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Curious, do you think MacKinnon is a better player than Ovechkin?
Better player right now? Yes. Better goal scorer? No.
Curious, do you think MacKinnon is a better player than Ovechkin?
The case for Matthews is his ELITE shot and goal scoring ability. Also, his first year, he was a complete puck hound who was relentless on the backcheck--these days not so much. The issue is that MacKinnon is also a high-end goal scorer and at this point plays a more complete game. MacKinnon is also more consistent.
Do you think Matthews missing those games in his 2nd and 3rd seasons is what made him look lackadaisical?I think Matthews has been really good defensively this year, particularly under Keefe. His positioning in the d-zone is far better than I've ever seen it, he's often breaking up chances in the high danger areas and spends more time closer to the net than he did under Babcock (partly due to coaching philosophy).
I do agree that in his 2nd and 3rd seasons he was lackadaisical at times.
Right now? Absolutely, no question about it.Curious, do you think MacKinnon is a better player than Ovechkin?
I think Matthews has been really good defensively this year, particularly under Keefe. His positioning in the d-zone is far better than I've ever seen it, he's often breaking up chances in the high danger areas and spends more time closer to the net than he did under Babcock (partly due to coaching philosophy). Pretty common now to see highlight packages of his defensive play during games, that was very rare in the past. I do agree that in his 2nd and 3rd seasons he was lackadaisical at times with his defense.
Highlight packages are all well and good but I used to see highlight packages of Fowlers good defensive plays back when he wasn’t particularly good in his own zone - it was the broadcast team trying to put him over to the fans. Even for the worst players you can put together a package of a few good things they do in a game.
Matthews is better defensively than he was but he’s far from “really good defensively” he’s somewhere around average. Which isn’t a bad thing, he’s arguably the best goal scorer in the league, he doesn’t need to be really good defensively to still be among the leagues top 10 forwards.
There's a chart on the previous page that literally shows he's been above-average defensively this year. I'm just saying he's been good in the eye test as well.
There are no motivational issues with Matthews.doesn’t have the motivational issues of Matthews
There are no motivational issues with Matthews.
objective and honest = agree with meLeaf fans have in many threads cited that for how his two way game went from being good in his rookie year under Babs, and then went in the crapper. Now under Keefe he seems motivated again. That’s not my word, that’s the word from many leafs fans here...the ones who are able to objective and honest anyway.
objective and honest = agree with me
What you are describing is certainly not a mainstream opinion among Leaf fans.
Falsely claiming that other people said your unsubstantiated opinion doesn't make it any more true.That’s not my word, that’s the word from many leafs fans here...
Falsely claiming that other people said your unsubstantiated opinion doesn't make it any more true.
You are bringing forth an unsubstantiated opinion, not some imaginary "Leaf fan".Maybe you should be arguing with Leaf fans instead of me.
He is.Matthews isn’t on Mac’s level.
Sorry but I had to stop and reply to this. Nathan MacKinnon shoots the puck. He shoots the puck more than anyone other than Ovechkin. Over the past 3 seasons, Ovechkin has 974 shots on goal and MacK 909, and they're #1 and 2. Matthews may be more of a sniper which is probably what you meant. MacK peppers the net.He's just more of a shooter.
Sorry but I had to stop and reply to this. Nathan MacKinnon shoots the puck. He shoots the puck more than anyone other than Ovechkin. Over the past 3 seasons, Ovechkin has 974 shots on goal and MacK 909, and they're #1 and 2. Matthews may be more of a sniper which is probably what you meant. MacK peppers the net.
No I didn't. I didn't falsely claim that other people did or said things to avoid having to answer to anything I say myself. I also have substantiated my position in this thread multiple times.You accuse @nabob then chose to do the same thing.
No I didn't. I didn't falsely claim that other people did or said things to avoid having to answer to anything I say myself. I also have substantiated my position in this thread multiple times.