The issue is that the media doesn't vote on the award the same every year. A few years ago they voted for Hall to win, and every one of those voters should be voting for Shesterkin or Josi this year as those guys fit the criteria of "the team wouldn't be close to the playoffs without them." But there are too many of the voters who fall for their own narratives on it.
Winning the scoring race by 8 points after being outside of the top 25 scoring leaders at one point this year is a tad impressive.
Hey now, Sam Gagner once scored 8 points in a game. Show some respect for that number
You really just called Matthews a 2 way ELITE centerman AND COMPARED HIM TO Fedorov?
It's like a lot of people don't understand the effect that a dominant line has on matchups. Matthews (and McDavid) aren't being used in defensive situations, and the other team is just trying to shut them down when they are on the ice, as opposed to a full out offensive attack. It's absolutely hilarious to call Matthews an Elite Defensive Center because he doesn't play defensive hockey at all. Pointing to a specific defensive metric that makes him look good and saying "SEE!?!?" is just silly because it completely strips away the context of the role that Matthews plays, which is "go out and score goals", and in all honesty that kind of behavior really just demonstrates a complete lack of understanding of hockey beyond a surface level.You really just called Matthews a 2 way ELITE centerman AND COMPARED HIM TO Fedorov?
You Leafs fans need to seriously get a grip at this point. Is Matthews better defensively this year? Absolutely. Elite 2 way center?
No. Just no. Elite defensive centers aren't taking the 4th fewest defensive zone starts on their team like Matthews did this year.
Stop the cap
Edit.....Elite 2 way centerman also don't bleed HDSC like Matthews does or give up an unreal amount of 5v5 goals.
Again.....stop the cap.
Elite 2 way center
Matthews can have the award that the donut eaters in the press box vote on.
McDavid will take home the MVP award that the players vote on, the Ted Lindsey Award.
The award voted on by players is far more important and meaningful than the one voted on by the jackals in the media.
Theres a reason he has the 4th lowest d-zone starts out of the 4 centers in his team. TO fans want us to believe he's a dominant and elite defensive player and yet the coach rarely starts him in the D-zone.
Over the guy that the players just voted as the #1 dude they would want on their team if they absolutely HAD to win 1 game?
If he was "elite" defensively he would start in his own zone more.....but he isn't so he doesn't.
Right, that's fine and all, but if Matthews isn't used in a defensive role, then he really isn't "an elite defensive center".
Using your best and most elite defensive forward in the Dzone makes way more sense.
Those are the same people that would want Carey Price in net..... Just sayingOver the guy that the players just voted as the #1 dude they would want on their team if they absolutely HAD to win 1 game?
No, I am not describing penalty killing. This is a real effect that many former players have talked about. Daniel Alfredsson had a great description of the effect when he was on the Wally and Methot show. He said that when he went from playing with Todd White to playing with Spezza and Heatley, all of a sudden the matchups he got weren't even trying to score against him most of the time anymore. The line was so dangerous offensively, that the matchups they got were just primarily focuses on making sure they don't get scored on. You can visually see this. I watched teams defend against the Matthews and Marner line. They're not nearly as risky, they're very aware of their positioning on the ice, and they make sure to have tight coverage. They're not attempting to turn pucks over for a quick transition. They're not attempting to try and burn them up the ice. They're tentative and patient instead. This makes defending a lot easier for Matthews, and also players like McDavid.
Agreed. He's a hell of a player for sure.
