Who would you rather be? Matthews or Williams?

[LPHabsFan]

As a result of the thread on Matthews in winner take all games, and the fact that he's 0-7 with atrocious stats, here's a question.

Who would you rather be? Auston Matthews or Justin Williams?

Keep in mind a couple of things. No doubt, we don't know how Matthews career will finish, as there are plenty of guys that were chokers until they weren't. I get that. There are also tons of guys who have multiple cups that are simply role players, which is why this isn't just about cups vs no cups, it's more about the big game aura element.

Auston Matthews - Likely HOF'er based on points alone, and playing in Toronto, if he keeps it up. Calder, Hart, Ted Lindsay, multiple Rockets, Art Ross, etc. Multiple 60+ goal seasons. Currently has made just under 80 million and will no doubt easily eclipse the 100 million in career earning outside of some drastic change.

We all know what he's been like in the playoffs, and in big games, as in 6 NHL games he has 3 assists and is -3, and 2 assists and +1 in the 4 Nations Final for a total of 4 points and -2 in 7 winner take all games. 48 points in 55 playoff games.

Justin Williams - 3 time Stanley Cup winner. Unlikely to get in the HOF. Only individual trophy is the Conne Smythe. Couple of World Championship gold medals. Roughly 54 million in career earnings. Just under 800 points. A very, very good career.

In Game 7's alone, he is 8 - 1 and has 7 goals and 8 assists for 15 points in 9 games. to go with the Conne Smythe and 3 Cups. 102 points in 162 playoff games.

So, are you choosing the boatloads more money, and individual success, but have the choker label due to big game results, or are you sacrificing all of that (though Williams did make great money too and had a great career) for the big game aura and cups.

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[BKarchitect]

I’ll take my bet as a 27 year-old Matthews that I’ve got plenty of chances yet to write my history…

 

[Summer Rose]

Honestly, as passionate as I am about hockey and how much I’d love the glory of Justin Williams’ career, if I were actually an NHL player, I’m going to take the much higher salary without second thought.

Now, if the options were salaries that are much more comparable (let’s say $95 million in career earnings or $110 in career earnings) then it becomes a much more intriguing thought exercise to me. Matthews just makes too much money compared to the career earnings of Williams for me to think about it much though.