Rookie Ovechkin or Prime Matthews

[Maplebeasts]

He was 23rd in points and led his team with 7 and 8 points over 2nd and 3rd. Ovechkin was 3rd and led his team by nearly 50 points.

Those are not remotely comparable rookie seasons.

I didn't say it was a better rookie season. The point I was making was that Rookie Matthews was also productive with not so good line mates.

 

[authentic]

He was 23rd in points and led his team with 7 and 8 points over 2nd and 3rd. Ovechkin was 3rd and led his team by nearly 50 points.

Those are not remotely comparable rookie seasons.

Until you see that Matthews played 17 minutes a night and 2:28 on the powerplay. Serious, did people watch rookie Matthews? No, he wasn’t as good as rookie Ovechkin, but the fact that people take rookie Ovechkin here over prime Matthews is insane!

 

[authentic]

I didn't say it was a better rookie season. The point I was making was that Rookie Matthews was also productive with not so good line mates.

Also with essentially 3rd line ice time and powerplay time

 

[Sol]

This is the most disrespectful poll I’ve seen. Ovechkin was unbelievable the moment he joined the NHL. Let’s be honest with ourselves.

 

[Plural]

Until you see that Matthews played 17 minutes a night and 2:28 on the powerplay. Serious, did people watch rookie Matthews? No, he wasn’t as good as rookie Ovechkin, but the fact that people take rookie Ovechkin here over prime Matthews is insane!

It's not insane. Rookie Ovechkin was really close to peak Ovechkin.

 

[Fatass]

Matthews if dressing dandy counts.

 

[Fatass]

This is the most disrespectful poll I’ve seen. Ovechkin was unbelievable the moment he joined the NHL. Let’s be honest with ourselves.

OV is a top 10 all time player and the #1 goal scorer ever. He led the Csps to the Cup. He fights; just ask Svech. He’s a bull dozer on the forecheck. Matthews is not in the top 100 players. Hell I’d take Armstrong, Keon, Sittler, and Sundin before Matthews.

 

[authentic]

It's not insane. Rookie Ovechkin was really close to peak Ovechkin.

Meh, maybe you’re right.

 

[Agent Zub]

Used to watch this on repeat. Rookie ovechkin was something else

 

[Maplebeasts]

OV is a top 10 all time player and the #1 goal scorer ever. He led the Csps to the Cup. He fights; just ask Svech. He’s a bull dozer on the forecheck. Matthews is not in the top 100 players. Hell I’d take Armstrong, Keon, Sittler, and Sundin before Matthews.

This is delusional.

 

[Plural]

This is delusional.

Serious question, is Matthews the best player ever in Leafs?

 

[Midnight Judges]

OV is a top 10 all time player and the #1 goal scorer ever. He led the Csps to the Cup. He fights; just ask Svech. He’s a bull dozer on the forecheck. Matthews is not in the top 100 players. Hell I’d take Armstrong, Keon, Sittler, and Sundin before Matthews.

IMO Matthews has a pretty good likelihood of cracking some top 100 lists.

 

[CharasLazyWrister]

Realistically, how far below peak Ovechkin was rookie Ovechkin? He had 106 points his rookie year. 112 was the most he ever put up.

I have to go OV and it doesn’t take much thought. Dude was an absolute animal from the beginning.

Now of course AM was a goal scoring machine from the beginning as well. But in terms of all-around threat anywhere on the ice? Rookie OV has to have the edge.

 

[authentic]

Serious question, is Matthews the best player ever in Leafs?

Is that really a question? Of course he is

I mean Doug Gilmour had quite the peak and especially in the playoffs but I don’t have any doubts Matthews will go down as the best and greatest Maple Leafs player of all-time.

 

[Plural]

Is that really a question? Of course he is

For an O6 team, it's sort of a thin talentpool to draw from.

I can't think anyone better.

 

[authentic]

Realistically, how far below peak Ovechkin was rookie Ovechkin? He had 106 points his rookie year. 112 was the most he ever put up.

I have to go OV and it doesn’t take much thought. Dude was an absolute animal from the beginning.

Now of course AM was a goal scoring machine from the beginning as well. But in terms of all-around threat anywhere on the ice? Rookie OV has to have the edge.

Peak Ovechkin was the best scorer and point producer in the NHL. Paced for 124 points in 2010 in a lower scoring league than 2005-06. There was a gap between rookie Ovechkin and peak Ovechkin and I could see Matthews fitting right in the middle of it. I don’t think this board fully grasps how good a peak and healthy Matthews was.

 

[authentic]

For an O6 team, it's sort of a thin talentpool to draw from.

I can't think anyone better.

I’ve always been amazed at how lacklustre our all-time star power is for a franchise that’s been around since before the official NHL began. It’s almost humorous in conjunction with having the longest Stanley Cup drought in the league.

 

[Maplebeasts]

Serious question, is Matthews the best player ever in Leafs?

In the regular season yes. He's the only Leaf in 50+ years that was ever a threat to win major individual hardware and is almost certainly going to hold almost all of the important franchise records when he's done here. However he deserves all the hate he gets for not being able to elevate in the playoffs like most of the other top 5-10 players in the league have been able to do.

 

[Dubi Doo]

While I agree Ovi is having a better singular season this year (although by only a hair) - you have to realize that this is irrelevant to the actual OP right?

Ovechkin's rookie year he was 3rd in points and 3rd in goals.

Matthews at his best was 3rd in points/gp and easily the best goal scorer in the world. Matthews is the answer here.

Ovi also brought a physicality/speed combo that Matthews doesn't have, though Matthews does play the more premium position and is very good defensively. Tough choice, honestly.

Ovi was a power forward who could skate like the wind and score a ton of goals...even his rookie year. I'm going to miss him when he retires.