Nathan MacKinnon vs Jonathan Drouin
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As a season ticket holder I've seen both plenty over the last two years. You can talk about vision and IQ all you want but I have absolutely no doubt that Mackinnon is the better package and will have more impact at the NHL level. Honestly I think Drouin has slightly better hands and that's it. I've seen poor decision making from both of them, especially Drouin post-WJCs.
I love how Drouin gets credit for his vision when he finds the wide open trailer on the rush (obvious play) because two defenders have committed to covering Mackinnon (who has probably skated by at least 2 opposing players and a teammate to join the rush) on the way to the net, for example.
I love how Drouin gets credit for his vision when he finds the wide open trailer on the rush (obvious play) because two defenders have committed to covering Mackinnon (who has probably skated by at least 2 opposing players and a teammate to join the rush) on the way to the net, for example.
^ THIS, MacKinnon is a class above Drouin.
1. Jones - MacKinnon
2. Barkov (could see him compete for #1, gonna play for Fin national team in WHC)
3. Drouin (love the skill, but reminds me of Huberdeau, physically imature)
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Good point. He often looks like he hit "speed burst" in an NHL video game when he comes up ice. His explosiveness is rare. Even the small bursts that don`t lead to any goals are fun to watch, coming off the boards, spinning off a defender etc. He makes even the best defenders look like they are 3rd pairing defensemen trying to contain him at times.
Someone mentioned somewhere else about how he is too fast for his linemates lol.... this sounds silly, but it`s true. When he takes the pass inside his own blueline and speeds up ice, everyone is late getting to the zone. He often has to coast to let his linemates get up in the play. Not saying its everyone else`s fault that he tries too many individual rushes, but there are many times he glances to his side and sees nobody, so he tries to take it in deep/to the net himself to a fault at times.
His finish has been lacking since world juniors though. His shots are firing high, and while he`s been robbed by the glove a few times, "old" MacKinnon`s shots were barely being seen let alone stopped. He is creating tons of chances but not putting the puck in like he can. He used to be the guy that if he got a good scoring chance it went in. Now he is getting lots of great chances, and not scoring. Guess thats how it goes sometimes.
I just don't think that you know what you are talking about. First your description of what vision/hockey IQ showed that you can't differentiate it from creativity. Secondly, you said that MacKinnon had a better hockey IQ than Drouin (which he does not even though MacKinnon has very good hockey IQ too) and when I told you would not find a coach/scout/executive to prove your point you said I could not to prove mine either. Then, when I did quite easily you said that a coach saying Drouin has "best IQ he ever coached against in this league" did not mean he was saying Drouin had higher IQ than his linemate MacKinnon (LOL).
As for your Crosby comment, it is possible Tourigny lacked perspective in his excitement to praise Drouin (Crosby last played in the QMJHL in April 2005 after all). That being said, when he praised a player as the "highest IQ he ever coached against", he referred to Drouin, not his linemate MacKinnon. Besides, if you do basic research on these prospects, you will see that Drouin is recognized has having the best IQ of the two, perhaps even the best hockey IQ amongst draft eligible forwards this year.
Pretending that MacKinnon has better hockey IQ than Drouin is nearly as ridiculous as pretending that Drouin is a better skater than MacKinnon. The thing is that the casual, more or less knowledgeable hockey fan can see who skates better but can't determine who has hockey IQ as easily.
And I'm still on the MacKinnon is slightly better than Drouin bandwagon for the record. I am just saying Drouin has better hockey IQ, which is far from a revolutionnary opinion in hockey circles.
Yeah. I thought so.
I think this whole argument is silly ... Most don't need a scouts opinion or report to see the difference in "IQ". Just watch them play ... You'll see how Drouin finds players that you from the stand didn't even see, and how he can slow the game down and view the ice so well... That's not a knock on MacKinnon, he's still great in that regard, but Drouin's claim to fame after his hands is his exceptional sense, no question better ..... Just watch them play.
I don't think the edge in vision and hands elevates Drouin above MacKinnon even outplaying him for the majority of the season ... MacKinnon looks like he'll adapt better, and is in better condition (playing style) to be picked higher, and "make it" quicker.
I don't think the edge in vision and hands elevates Drouin above MacKinnon even outplaying him for the majority of the season ... MacKinnon looks like he'll adapt better, and is in better condition (playing style) to be picked higher, and "make it" quicker.
On the TSN midseason draft special tonight, who was chosen as best hockey IQ in the entire draft? Jonathan Drouin...
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Hutz
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Ya whatever, guy who picks what arguments support his hypothesis and none of the ones that don't.
Don't see where it says he's the smartest unless it was in video + according you your logic Drouin is smarter than Crosby. Oh wait, you made up a half baked excuse for that one.
And Giroux too*
Guess you also believe HFboards should close down because why even offer a POV when you can google what other people think and repeat it like a mindless robot.
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Spectra
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Seriously, every GM will pick the center if two players are about equal in skill. Besides, MacKinnon is a much more complete package than Drouin.
The only team in the NHL that might select Drouin over MacKinnon in the draft is the Pens and that's only because they already have 2 of the top 5 centers in the world.
The only team in the NHL that might select Drouin over MacKinnon in the draft is the Pens and that's only because they already have 2 of the top 5 centers in the world.
Lol. Pretty sad response. Obviously you have no clue what you are talking about. But let's leave it here
Whatever helps you sleep at night. But hey! Who am I to talk? I'm only offering my opinion based on seeing him, and you're offering a single quote from a coach that, by your logic, implies Drouin's smarter than Giroux and Crosby. Guess you got me! checkmate!
I think HalifaxDucks summed up the debated pretty well. Basically anyone who is remotedly knowledgeable about hockey can see now Drouin's IQ is off the charts and superior to MacKinnon's still very good IQ. Craig Button also came out and said Drouin had the best IQ in the entire draft class (which also includes MacKinnon) and there are many other sources who have been saying the same thing all year long. On the other hand, you have no one and no outside, legitimate source backing your point of view. You even showed earlier in this thread that you did not even know (lol) what hockey vision/IQ/sense is about as you thought it was "dangling". So I could argue with you in many more posts but why lose time with someone that is so clueless on the topic at hand?
I'm sorry Mr. "Drouin is smarter than Crosby and Giroux and I have no evidence that directly compares Drouin to MacKinnon", but I offered my opinion based on my own definitions of IQ which include decision making and simple plays. I didn't say the hockey world was in consensus.
How many viewings you had in Montreal? Thought so.
Anybody who wants to know why there really isn't a wrong answer in this debate should check the highlights from tonight's game. Only the 1st but MacKinnon and Drouin are tearing apart Chicoutimi. A couple beauties so far.
I prefer Drouin purely from a watching him play level, but since Nate is a center, I suspect he is the more complete better player, Drouin has sick skills, his size could also be an issue though.
Haha relax man. The coach who gave that quote didn't have a list of players he's coached against in front of him.. And do you think either the coach or him was thinking Drouin > Crosby and Giroux for IQ when dropping that quote?
You get to see Mackinnon and Drouin more then him probably, but the extreme exaggeration of the quote he gave to support his side of the argument isn't going to suddenly make people think you're right.
The point was that if you're going to make that quote the be-all-end-all of your argument that someone else "knows nothing" then that's the way it goes. You live by the sword you die by it so to speak. I wasn't trying to convince anyone. I offered my opinion based on MY viewings of the two, and he said I'm wrong because other people say otherwise + used that as his supreme example.
You can't say someone who's watched him has a "wrong opinion" and "doesn't know anything" when you're the one pulling internet quotes because you don't have enough viewings to have made up your own mind. Just hurts my head. Let people have a point of view. lol
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