Who Would You Rather Have Going Forward? Drai or Matthews
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McPoyle
Start breaking bricks wet nips
Taking Drai. More versatile offensive player (can playmake and score). Far better playoff performer. Locked up for 9 more years vs 4.
Golden_Jet
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Golden_Jet
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Assume you can take one of them with their current contracts,
Next Contract kicks in 2025
I’d probably take Drai. He’s a more versatile offensive player, has shown better in the playoffs and I like his contract situation better. He’s on one more year at 8.5 and then 3 years where he’ll be making only 0.75 more than Matthews, then Matthews will likely want another raise and could possibly walk at that point. The upside to Matthews is he’s 2 years younger and I think he’s shown to be a better 5v5 player in the regular season, but I’d like to see him continue that in the playoffs. Can’t really go wrong with either though.
Suntouchable13
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I'll take Drai at 14M for the next 8 years after this one over Matthews who might be making 15 or 16 on his next deal. Matthews simply not worth that. Sorry.
I am not exposed
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OP should probably clarify, but contracts probably implies the one Drai has as well as his new one. Unless the OP is asking if you want Drai for one year, which makes no sense.
Nico Cauzuki
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McVespa99
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Lemontree
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They never met in the NHL playoffs.
Draisaitl did however put up this impressive stat line in his first trip to the NHL finals:
0 points in game #1 (Oilers lose 3-0)
0 points in game #2 (Oilers lose 4-1)
0 points in game #3 (Oilers lose 4-3)
2 assists in game #4 (Oilers win 8-1)
0 points in game #5 (Oilers win 5-3)
1 assist in game #6 (Oilers win 5-1)
0 points in game #7 (Oilers lose 2-1)
Connor McDavid does the heavy lifting for the Edmonton Oilers, Draisaitl gets to ride shotgun.
Fiance.
Nobody is perfect.
Look at young, uninjured Crosby when they won the cup despite him.
And the year after against MTL.
Guess he stinks too cause he had some shitty rounds?
Lemontree
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If you want to make the argument that a 3 time cup champion and 2 time Conn Smythe winner "stinks" then go ahead. There was nothing impressive about Crosby's 2009 finals and if you made that argument in 2010 you might be on to something but you can't make that argument in 2024 because we have the hindsight to see what Crosby has accomplished.
If you want to use the argument that we need to wait and see what Draistail will do going forward, no problem with that as that is a rational position. If Draistail is provided that then Matthews also needs to be, the fact that we do not know what either will do/produce in the future.
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Exactly what I'm saying.
I know it's a dumb excuse but his injury really messed him up, you can see exactly the area where his points start to go downhill.
And to answer the thread, even if regular season is a wash.
Drai elevates his game in the playoffs, which Auston hasn't been able to do yet.
Drai elevates his game in the playoffs, which Auston hasn't been able to do yet.
Lemontree
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It might be the injury, it could also be a case of no longer getting to beat up on weak teams like the Kings and the Canucks. Dallas and Florida are much stronger teams.
zar
Bleed Blue
Drai’s stats in the Conference or Cup finals is irrelevant in this discussion because there is nothing to compare to for the other half of the argument.
Either way, these players are fairly comparable with different strengths/weaknesses. The contract aspect and having Draisaitl locked up long term at a known fair market amount is what sways me to choose Leon.
Draisaitl was basically unable to shoot the puck in the Finals. He had a broken rib which was bad enough but then broke a finger on his hand and then basically couldn't get any push on his shot.
His playoff track record in other rounds speaks for itself.
His playoff track record in other rounds speaks for itself.
Namikaze Minato
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I'm a Homer who leans Matthews but understands and have 0 problem with anyone picking Drai. They're both fantastic, top 5 players in the league who can win a Hart any given season.
Sidney the Kidney
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This is where I am. I'm always in favor of someone who is elite (or very good) at both playmaking and goal scoring over someone who is elite at one but only average (relatively speaking) at the other.
Matthews because he's the better goal scorer, better defensively and doesn't heavily rely on the PP. Drai is great though and has been a beast in the playoffs, but if we were to take both Matthews and Drai off their immediate teams for example, and put each guy on a neutral team, say Calgary. I think Matthews scores more, he creates his own chances and doesn't need an insane amount of PP time. I understand anyone voting Drai based on Drai having won rounds and made the finals, but context matters.
McVespa99
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Drai had 2 injuries but you already knew that
The hair and face comments were a shot at Matthews. Not a desire for Drai
I know. I meant Celeste would be better than any fiance that Auston would have lmaoThe hair and face comments were a shot at Matthews. Not a desire for Drai
ricky0034
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all that and he still managed to have more points in this years Playoffs than Matthews has in the last 4 years combined
