Rookie Ovechkin or Prime Matthews

[Video Nasty]

I think playoffs has a lot to do with it. I think Matthews’ ‘24, ‘22 and ‘21 (though shortened) were all better regular seasons. But while we never saw rookie Ovechkin in the playoffs, I kind of think I’d take a chance on him between them going into the playoffs.

Sadly, Matthews had what could be labeled as one of his best individual postseasons as a rookie. He scored in 4 straight games and was the lone Leaf to score in Games 5 and 6 against Washington, in which they lost both games 2-1 in OT.

Fairly heroic for his age in a losing effort. Not sure why he’s been so inconsistent through this point. He’s shown these flashes at times, but never seems to maintain momentum.

 

[Golden_Jet]

Matthews has more career goals.
Plays C
Selke nominee.

All of his metrics are better.

Ovy played as the young star in a league with way less talent then now.

Crosby was injured for 2 years.

No comparison to Drai/mack/kuch/mcdavid

3 Harts and 3 Ted Lindsey’s, trumps those easily.

 

[dukeofjive]

Tough question, the one man wrecking ball that is to become the greatest goal scorer in nhl history.

Or the most overrated player in the league.

 

[PamBallam]

Rookie Ovi. Matthews is a great player, but Ovi was a generational talent.

 

[Midnight Judges]

Matthews had less TOI. Less pp and still outscored ovy despite having to play match up C

Match-up players don't have a 69.9% offensive zone start percentage.

If Matthews had a lower TOI, we can only assume it's because his coaches thought the team was better off that way.

 

[TheLegend27]

Match-up players don't have a 69.9% offensive zone start percentage.

If Matthews had a lower TOI, we can only assume it's because his coaches thought the team was better off that way.

Or his team was deeper in depth

 

[The Podium]

Matthews 3rd
OV tied for third, and 52 goals as rookie (12 more), and was a wrecking ball, just ran through players.

Matthews was tied for 2nd, but change facts if you want

 

[authentic]

I think playoffs has a lot to do with it. I think Matthews’ ‘24, ‘22 and ‘21 (though shortened) were all better regular seasons. But while we never saw rookie Ovechkin in the playoffs, I kind of think I’d take a chance on him between them going into the playoffs.

I think of course his playoff career so far leaves a lot to be desired (putting it nicely even) but at the same time he has had stellar series’ against Tampa Bay, scores 4 in 6 against Washington as a rookie, scored 5 goals against Boston matched up against Bergeron, and has been defensively really good for the most part since 2020, like best defensive player on the ice many nights. I don’t see rookie Ovechkin making more of a difference than some of Matthews best series outside of the fact that he’s not as injury prone which wouldn’t matter because the Leafs don’t advance anyway

 

[authentic]

Sadly, Matthews had what could be labeled as one of his best individual postseasons as a rookie. He scored in 4 straight games and was the lone Leaf to score in Games 5 and 6 against Washington, in which they lost both games 2-1 in OT.

Fairly heroic for his age in a losing effort. Not sure why he’s been so inconsistent through this point. He’s shown these flashes at times, but never seems to maintain momentum.

Injuries and getting put out in the 1st round every year will do it. I hope for the best for him in years to come but these reoccurring injuries have become a real worry when the playoffs roll around.

 

[Sky04]

Prime Matthews led the league by 12 goals and finished 3rd in Selke voting.

Not even a leafs fan, but the poll results are ridiculous. Prime Matthews vs. Prime Ovi would be one thing, but that's not what this is.

You would take Matthews over a young Ovi in a playoff run? Bold.

 

[SkinsFan09]

Matthews has more career goals.
Plays C
Selke nominee.

All of his metrics are better.

Ovy played as the young star in a league with way less talent then now.

Crosby was injured for 2 years.

No comparison to Drai/mack/kuch/mcdavid

1. Crosby wasn't going to beat Ovechkin for Hart in 07-08 and he was healthy in 08-09 and 09-10.

2. All the greatest forwards of all-time are on that list because of their offense not their defense. Unless you're playing at Bergeron or Fedorov level.

 

[mphmiles]

You would take Matthews over a young Ovi in a playoff run? Bold.

Not the question.

 

[filinski77]

Comparing relative to peers indicates that peers are the same.

Steve yzerman has less harts and rosses than both sedins, Benn and Corey freaking Perry.

Early ovy didn’t play against Anywhere near the talent that Matthews did in his first 9 years.

Matthews had less TOI. Less pp and still outscored ovy despite having to play match up C, lead all forwards in block shots and be a selke level Forward.

I fully agree that ovy is much more likely to have a better second half, one because Matthews is likely to break down and 2 because ovy is unique. But first 9 years Matthews has been better

There’s no real basis to say that Matthews peers are better.

Ovi had a 3 year period where he was by far the best goal producer and the best point producer.

Ovechkin was outplaying guys like: Crosby, Malkin, Datsyuk, Iginla, Thornton, Zetterberg, Spezza, Lecavalier, Kovalchuk, St. Louis, Heatley, Getzlaf, Sedins, Stamkos, Kane

It’s clear you’re seeing easier goal scoring and higher raw numbers so you think that the competition is simply better. But there’s so many examples of older and way post-prime/peak versions of players keeping up with Matthews.

Way too much evidence that these older and worse versions of the 2005-2015 players keeping up with the current version of players to have any real argument that the players today are any better. 39 year old Ovi is literally a shell of his prime and is still 5th in goals despite having broken his leg and missing 16 games LOL.

33 year old Ovi had a better point/gp than 21 year old Matthews

22 year old Matthews was a worse point producer than 33 year old Malkin, 32 year old Crosby, 31 year old Kane and Marchand.

23 year old Matthews was pretty similar in points to 33 year old Crosby and 32 year old Kane

25 year old Matthews was in the same realm of point production as 35 year old Crosby, 32 year old Karlsson.

27 year old Matthews is barely above 39 year old Ovi and 37 year old Crosby in points production