News Article: Maple Leafs' Knies: Matthews is NHL's 'best overall player'

[Its not your fault]

I like the cheeky double negative.


However, while I certainly understand the position the kid was taking, one can't take away from McDavid what is rightly his...


I believe that at everyone's absolute best, Matthews is the 2nd best player in the league, as he is perfectly capable of scoring 60 goals and 50 assists while being truly dominant defensively and not need to rely on the elusive power play.

At his absolute best, MacKinnon is next for me, followed closely by Draisaitl.

Afterwards, there is a big lump of players: Barkov, Kucherov, Tkachuck, Hughes, Pettersen....

Crosby is still a top 10 player as far as I'm concerned, but where he slots, I'm not sure. Somewhere between 5 and 10 though.

Marners inability to finish early in his career cost Matthews assist. That said right on.

 

[TMLBlueandWhite]

Just because Matthews is the highest paid player in the world doesn't mean he's the best player in the world.

It just means he's the highest paid.

Is Matthews the best Leafs player I've ever seen? Yes. Is Matthews the best Leafs player ever? Maybe. Is Matthews the best overall player in the league right now? Probably not.

According to the talking heads on tv you'd think Matthews underwent a complete Yzerman style transformation though.

Like he's a defensive specialist now. I can agree Matthews has improved in that regard. That still doesn't make him a complete 200 foot player though.

Don't get me wrong, Matthews is a helluva good player.

And I'm awfully glad he's on the team. He just may be the best Leafs player I've ever had the pleasure of watching. But I still don't think he's the best overall player in the game.

He only gets paid like it is all.

 

[Notsince67]

If Matthews isn't hurt, he's top 10 for sure, probably top 5. Best overall? I don't think he's so far away that it sounds crazy if a teammate says it.

Personally, I'd rather have McDavid. I Matthews is in a group where I'd put him on equal ground with McKinnon, Draisatl. After this season, there is a chance Jack Hughes or Rasmus Dahlin may join that discussion. But other than McDavid, I don't put anyone clearly above Matthews AND McDavid I don't think is THAT far above him.

I prefer Matthews. That opinion will change within the first 2 minutes after McDavid dons the blue and White