Which Player Do You Take For A Playoff Run: Thornton, Matthews Or Stamkos?

[GlitchMarner]

If you could have the prime version of any of these players for a playoff run, which one would you choose?

 

[jigglysquishy]

All three are poor playoff performers.

Matthews at least brings defense.

 

[bambamcam4ever]

I don't think people appreciate how poor Stamkos has been in the playoffs and at the highest level of competition, especially since his team has generally done very well in the playoffs despite him.

 

[tabness]

Stamkos followed up missing 2020 and a poor 2021 covid cup showing with a real good everything player showing for the Lightning in 2022 for a legit cup run, they just ran into the powerhouse Avs

Always felt Thornton didn't deserve the degree of criticism he got, but yeah, this is why generally I prefer goal scoring centers

Can't figure out Guccy Matthews issue yet. He's just... soft, even for a soft era

 

[Fatass]

Stamkos helped his club to 2 Cups. Imo I don’t understand why anyone would vote for players that failed helping their club to even one. To me Stamkos is a winner. The other two are not.

 

[fasterthanlight]

Stamkos obviously has the track record but it's difficult to disentangle various factors. At the same % of the cap, I probably go with prime Thornton. I feel like Matthews game doesn't translate that well to the ploffs, idk

 

[I am not exposed]

Stamkos helped his club to 2 Cups. Imo I don’t understand why anyone would vote for players that failed helping their club to even one. To me Stamkos is a winner. The other two are not.

Wasn't one of those cups a 3rd line appearance in one game? Hardly that much help.

 

[wetcoast]

Stamkos helped his club to 2 Cups. Imo I don’t understand why anyone would vote for players that failed helping their club to even one. To me Stamkos is a winner. The other two are not.

I guess because we are voting on these 3 individual players, you don't get get the entire TB team when you pick Stamkos.

Like it was pointed out above one of those SC's Stamkos played 2:47 in a single game so technically he won a SC by being maybe the 20th most important guy on that run or something.

 

[bobholly39]

Stamkos looked like he was trying harder? Does that count?

I'd have Thornton last.

 

[Toby91ca]

Stamkos helped his club to 2 Cups. Imo I don’t understand why anyone would vote for players that failed helping their club to even one. To me Stamkos is a winner. The other two are not.

I think it’s pretty clear why Stamkos is leading…because of his teams results. Reality is that Matthews has produced more offense than both of these guys and brought more defense than both. He takes a beating because of the lack of team success. To be fair though, Matthews hasn’t been great in the playoffs…point is, I think the other 2 have been worse though

 

[Fatass]

I think it’s pretty clear why Stamkos is leading…because of his teams results. Reality is that Matthews has produced more offense than both of these guys and brought more defense than both. He takes a beating because of the lack of team success. To be fair though, Matthews hasn’t been great in the playoffs…point is, I think the other 2 have been worse though

Stamkos was a key player in a Cup win. Of course he’s a better playoff performer than two guys who won nothing. Regular season is different. But this thread is about the playoffs.

 

[Frank Drebin]

Honestly probably Joe Thornton

 

[bambamcam4ever]

Stamkos was the worst regular season player and his play dropped off the most between the 3 in the playoffs. He just was fortunate to play on a stacked team loaded with depth.

 

[Regal]

Stamkos was a key player in a Cup win. Of course he’s a better playoff performer than two guys who won nothing. Regular season is different. But this thread is about the playoffs.

He was, at best, the 6th best player on a cup winner that won the year before without him for all but one game. If he was actually the number 1 center on that team it’d hold some weight, but he played under 16 minutes a game as the 9th highest forward in TOI. Nothing he showed in that run was better than what Thornton and Matthews have in the playoffs.

 

[wetcoast]

Stamkos was a key player in a Cup win. Of course he’s a better playoff performer than two guys who won nothing. Regular season is different. But this thread is about the playoffs.

Stamkos was a PP merchant in the 21 SC run and arguably behind Kuch, Point and Hedman on that unit.

At ES he was 10th in team scoring during the run tied with Goodrow and Colton.

It's a stretch to call him a key player unless you think a 6-10th best player on a SC run is a key player.

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[Fledgemyhedge]

Stamkos was a key player in a Cup win. Of course he’s a better playoff performer than two guys who won nothing. Regular season is different. But this thread is about the playoffs.

I have to test your logic. I like your posts but this is consistently one of your worst takes.

Stamkos vs Mcdavid in the playoffs who do you take?

 

[WetcoastOrca]

Man, this is a tough call. I’d have to go:
Thornton
Stamkos
Matthews

Matthews last based on his performance and the fact he’s the second highest paid player in the league where the salary cap is a big factor.

 

[Regal]

Thornton is a weird one because his underlying numbers are actually quite strong in the playoffs. From 07-08 to 15-16 he had a 56.2 xGF% at 5v5, but only a 46.1 actual GF% at 5v5, in large part due to his production not being there. I’m not sure if it’s all his fault but I got the impression that his possession game was always strong but good teams were able to let him have the puck but take away the high danger areas because his pass first game was easy to key in on.

Matthews’ production has also been weaker than the regular season, but for as much flak as he gets, he’s been outplaying his matchups. He has an actual GF% of 56.8 at 5v5 over his playoff career. That’s pretty damn good. I would take Matthews here.

Stamkos just didn’t have the all around game of the other two on top of the poor production and based on how he performed I would take him last. That said, we never really got to see him on a good team consistently during his early peak. He didn’t have a great run in 10-11, but it was also his first test of the playoffs. If he was on a team like the Sharks, Leafs or recent Bolts from 09-10 to 12-13, maybe he has a big run in there.

 

[Voight]

Stamkos followed up missing 2020 and a poor 2021 covid cup showing with a real good everything player showing for the Lightning in 2022 for a legit cup run, they just ran into the powerhouse Avs

Always felt Thornton didn't deserve the degree of criticism he got, but yeah, this is why generally I prefer goal scoring centers

Can't figure out Guccy Matthews issue yet. He's just... soft, even for a soft era

Between Boston and San Jose, Thornton made the playoffs all but two seasons between 2002 and 2019. He had 124 points in 162 games despite being one of the leagues better players during a good chunk of that timeframe. Thats why he gets criticized.

 

[wetcoast]

Between Boston and San Jose, Thornton made the playoffs all but two seasons between 2002 and 2019. He had 124 points in 162 games despite being one of the leagues better players during a good chunk of that timeframe. Thats why he gets criticized.

I actually think the label for Joe was his last 7 game series with Boston when he was injured and most other players with the same production drop get a pass.

It's more narrative driven than reality for me much like AM who should be leading this poll in a landslide but narratives.