The Hockey News Annual Top 50 Players in the NHL for 2024-2025

[The Expert]

Matthews scores the most goals in 30+ years while being a Selke finalist and is 7th? More click bait hot take crap meant to get people talking

They must take playoffs into account too.

 

[CupofOil]

Kucherov was one of the worst defensive players in the league last year. That is a fact. Matthews was a finalist for the Selke. A fact.

Matthews scored 69 goals the most in over 30 years. This site just hates the Leafs

Won the Art Ross and finished 2nd for the Hart, first one in decades to get 100 assists yet NOT EVEN CLOSE to Matthews. Laughable

 

[HockeyVirus]

Won the Art Ross and finished 2nd for the Hart, first one in decades to get 100 assists yet NOT EVEN CLOSE to Matthews. Laughable

Selke 69 goal big power center in prime >>> defensive black hole 31+ winger

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

Draisaitl is way too high. I’d at least take the next three players, Makar, Barkov, and Kucherov ahead of him. I’d lean towards taking Matthews too due to having a better defensive game but Draisaitl’s playoff domination compared to Matthews is stark.

 

[Romang67]

Kucherov was one of the worst defensive players in the league last year. That is a fact. Matthews was a finalist for the Selke. A fact.

Matthews scored 69 goals the most in over 30 years. This site just hates the Leafs

Is that a fact? What are you basing that on?

 

[Pass the Saitl Sauce]

Selke 69 goal big power center in prime >>> defensive black hole 31+ winger

144>107

 

[Video Nasty]

Won the Art Ross and finished 2nd for the Hart, first one in decades to get 100 assists yet NOT EVEN CLOSE to Matthews. Laughable

McDavid reached 100 assists first, fyi.

 

[Mrb1p]

Do you have something to say with my point or just want your turn at the low hanging fruit?

Also Matthews and the Leafs were elite defensively so it's not even good

Elite defensively
Maple leafs

You really have to choose one

14th in league in 5V5 GA (2 goals less accorded than Arizona)
Fourth in the league in 5v5 giveaways
15th in 5v5 takeaways
23rd in league in 5v5 SA (10 more shots accorded than the mighty Sabres)

Nothing elite about the leafs or Matthews, defensively.

 

[HockeyVirus]

Elite defensively
Maple leafs

You really have to choose one

14th in league in 5V5 GA (2 goals less accorded than Arizona)
Fourth in the league in 5v5 giveaways
15th in 5v5 takeaways
23rd in league in 5v5 SA (10 more shots accorded than the mighty Sabres)

Nothing elite about the leafs or Matthews, defensively.

I was talking about in the playoff series. Also yeah they had the worst goaltending in the league first half with Woll hurt and Samsonov being a sieve. Martin Jones saved their asses with his .902sv%

 

[Golden_Jet]

Elite defensively
Maple leafs

You really have to choose one

14th in league in 5V5 GA (2 goals less accorded than Arizona)
Fourth in the league in 5v5 giveaways
15th in 5v5 takeaways
23rd in league in 5v5 SA (10 more shots accorded than the mighty Sabres)

Nothing elite about the leafs or Matthews, defensively.

So you provide stats, then get the laughing emoji, then it’s followed up by excuses.

 

[The Shrike]

They must take playoffs into account too.

So, Alex Killorn > Marcel Dionne

 

[HighAndTight]

Matthews scores the most goals in 30+ years while being a Selke finalist and is 7th? More click bait hot take crap meant to get people talking

Undeserved selke finalist.

 

[hamzarocks]

Matthews scores the most goals in 30+ years while being a Selke finalist and is 7th? More click bait hot take crap meant to get people talking

Hes 2 or 3 spots below where he should be

Zero argument hes a better playwr than

Mcdavid
Mackinnon
Kucherov

Then draisaitl and him are 4th or 5th with them being close

Makar is 6th

That is tier 1 group

After that its a lower tier and guys after are not as good

Mcdavid is probably his own group, then Mack + Kuch + Drai + Matthews tier 2 with mack and kuch being ahead of the two for back to back consistently elite years vs Matthews/Draisaitl having a down year in 2023 and 2024

Helleybuck and Demko being top 15 is a joke lol, barkov also way to high

Kucherov was one of the worst defensive players in the league last year. That is a fact. Matthews was a finalist for the Selke. A fact.

Matthews scored 69 goals the most in over 30 years. This site just hates the Leafs

Kucherov would be the best leaf ever

He beats Matthews for peak + prime + career + playoffs

Matthews isnt better than him

Kucherov is close to joining the Crosby and Ovechkin tier all time

1 more 130-140 pt ross and hes same tier as both and a top 10-15 player ever

 

[SheldonJPlankton]

Leaf Fan Book of Excuses...2024 edition, Volume 98...Matthews scores!...except in the playoffs.

 

[Romang67]

Helleybuck and Demko being top 15 is a joke lol, barkov also way to high

Hellebuyck is one of 7 goalies to have won the Vezina twice, and has been a Vezina winner or a finalist 4 of the past 7 years (and finished 4th in voting one of the other years).

Tough crowd.

 

[Sasha Orlov]

View attachment 902828
Leaf Fan Book of Excuses...2024 edition, Volume 98...Matthews scores!...except in the playoffs.

It’s literally pivoted to “playoffs don’t count” at this point lmfao

 

[blankall]

Selke 69 goal big power center in prime >>> defensive black hole 31+ winger

This thread is worth posting in just to trigger you.....

I'll break it down.

McDavid: clearly better.
MacKinnon: Did what Matthews couldn't do. Led his team to a cup victory.
Barkov: See above. Also the actual Selke winner. Twice.
Kucherov: Has averaged about 1.5 PPG for the last 5 seasons....also cups.

You could debate Makar and Draisaitl being ahead of Matthews, but it's hardly a major injustice to pick them over Matthews. Just a matter of opinion.

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

At this point in their careers it is not even close between Kucherov and Matthews. That is just one name.

One guy won the Art Ross and actually produces in the playoffs, the other guy scores a lot of goals in the regular season then has the runs in the playoffs.

 

[SannywithoutCompy]

Do you have something to say with my point or just want your turn at the low hanging fruit?

Also Matthews and the Leafs were elite defensively so it's not even good

The defensive end isn't the end Matthews tends to ignore in the playoffs

 

[hamzarocks]

Hellebuyck is one of 7 goalies to have won the Vezina twice, and has been a Vezina winner or a finalist 4 of the past 7 years (and finished 4th in voting one of the other years).

Tough crowd.

He has horrific playoffs like all time bad playoff record

Matthews is being viewed poorly for bad playoffs, Helleybuck cant put .900 sv% usually come playoffs

Have to be consistent

 

[Romang67]

He has horrific playoffs like all time bad playoff record

Matthews is being viewed poorly for bad playoffs, Helleybuck cant put .900 sv% usually come playoffs

Have to be consistent

Hellebuyck has failed to put up .900 in the playoffs twice in 6 playoff runs. He's a career .911 playoff goalie, even after two disastrous playoffs in a row.

You're also talking up Matthews, primarily a goalscorer, who has scored 23 goals in 55 playoff games.

Have to be consistent.

 

[The Expert]

So, Alex Killorn > Marcel Dionne

I mean yeah, on a list of top current NHL players a guy in the league is going to be higher than a retired player. Good point.

 

[kcunac]

Not a fan of ranking goalies with forwards and defense.

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

Not a fan of ranking goalies with forwards and defense.

Yeah the two goalies stick out like sore thumbs in todays NHL.Two great goalies but It's tough out there to be a G these days

 

[Luigi Lemieux]

Is Crosby really #14 at this stage in his career?

He just had 94 points and was voted most complete player by his peers. Second highest scoring 36 year old season in history behind Gretzky.