Why is Auston Matthews considered a top 10 player?

[Eternal Leaf]

I think a lot of people are getting thrown off because of the 10 games he's missed.

First 30 Games (2017/18)

Matthews: 17 G, 14 A, 31 Pts

McDavid: 11 G, 24 A, 35 Pts
Crosby: 12 G, 18 A, 30 Pts
Tarasenko: 13 G, 18 A, 31 Pts
Malkin: 10 G, 19 A, 29 Pts
Benn: 12 G, 12 A, 24 Pts

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

I think a lot of people are getting thrown off because of the 10 games he's missed.

First 30 Games (2017/18)

Matthews: 17 G, 14 A, 31 Pts

McDavid: 11 G, 24 A, 35 Pts
Crosby: 12 G, 18 A, 30 Pts
Tarasenko: 13 G, 18 A, 31 Pts
Malkin: 10 G, 19 A, 29 Pts
Benn: 12 G, 12 A, 24 Pts

this.
A select few fans love that Matthews got injured so they can lazily dismiss his highly impressive performance. it's a bit sad

 

[SmoggyTwinkles]

Nobody huh? Owait


Theres countless people in your fanbase who do think matthews is better than crosby/kucherov/ov/stamkos, it is insanely delusional

Come one. See this is how so many people go "leafs fans durrr they're so delusional"

Admit it, there's like maybe 3-4 (ok sometimes it feels like maybe 6-7) Leafs fans on here that are out to lunch and make the rest of us, which there are a lot more, look like idiots.

We can't do anything about it.

I wish people of other fanbases on here would put those posters on ignore and then guess what? You'd be left with simply the reasonable Leafs fans and I think you'd be shocked that were normal, don't feel the need to over rate our players and have no problem appreciating non-leaf players.

You found one guy that was so obviously baiting. There's no way any sane person thinks Matthews is the best player in the league, if they're talking like that they are purposely playing the troll and should not be considered to represent the rest of Leafs fans please and thank you.

 

[2011 still hurts]

Look I understand baiting Leafs fans is fun but this is kind of desperate. Matthews isn't McDavid teir but I don't think anyone but delusional Leafs fans really imply that. He will however be a top 10 player in the league for the next decade with his skillset.

An Oilers fan with "McJesus" in his name making a thread about Matthews. Classic tbh

 

[snipes]

And he's also great defensively and a very good playmaker. It's hard to fathom how some people don't realize just how good he is.

Is he though?

His assist totals are quite low for the amount of games he's played. His playmaking is one of his weaker traits, he's just such a prolific goal scorer that this gets ignored.

 

[besser]

If any of the team is going to a cup "now"and they need 1 player

Wheeler or Matthews?

10 out of 10 the team will pick Blake Wheeler.

Future for sure matthews 10 out of 10. NOW?
Its Wheeler if the guy is playing in Toronto he would be talk about 10x more...

I actually disagree, I am not at all in any way a leafs fan, but I would take Matthews today over Wheeler. Matthews skill set would do wonders in high pressure games.

 

[SmoggyTwinkles]

they've been in and out of top 3 in the league standings through the first half of the season, which was by far the tougher half. with tonnes of games against the bottom feeders in their division like the sabres, senators, wings and Panthers, and tonnes of home games, they stand a good shot at finishing well over 100 points with all those easy games.

it may make lots of posters salty but they're a top team.

The Leafs? That is simply not true at all.

Not for the past while at least.

Leafs have been hovering around top 10 in overall standings for weeks now. Earlier yes they were flirting with 3rd overall but they've been around that 10th spot for quite a while now.

 

[Rants Mulliniks]

Lemieux missed his first 5 years? Guess hes not generational.

What makes guys like Lemieux generational is their results compared to their peers. Until McDavid starts dominating his peers the way Lemieux and Gretzky did and Orr as well, he just isn't in that conversation.

 

[Festinator]

I think a lot of people are getting thrown off because of the 10 games he's missed.

First 30 Games (2017/18)

Matthews: 17 G, 14 A, 31 Pts

McDavid: 11 G, 24 A, 35 Pts
Crosby: 12 G, 18 A, 30 Pts
Tarasenko: 13 G, 18 A, 31 Pts
Malkin: 10 G, 19 A, 29 Pts
Benn: 12 G, 12 A, 24 Pts

Can you add Wheeler to this so people can stop scoffing at him

 

[JetsHomer]

I bet virtually no NHL GM would agree with you.

GMs actually watch more than just Leafs games, so I bet they would

 

[Tad Mikowsky]

No one said that

Uh huh. Which is why you were ensinuating it by saying McDavid isn’t generational if his team misses playoffs.

Right.

 

[JetsHomer]

Based on what? Playing 10 games? I mean he should have more points with that many more games

When one player has 45 points in 40 games and one has 31 in 30 you’d have to be pretty bad at math to think number of games played is the reason for the points difference. Wheeler is the best player on the Jets, who are better team than the Leafs. Not sure why Toronto fans are discounting him so much.

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

Is he though?

His assist totals are quite low for the amount of games he's played. His playmaking is one of his weaker traits, he's just such a prolific goal scorer that this gets ignored.

yeah he's definitely a good playmaker. The difference is he's not a pass-first player, so he doesn't collect so many assists. In terms of actual passing ability/vision he is much better than his assist totals would have you believe

 

[Muston Atthews]

Uh huh. Which is why you were ensinuating it by saying McDavid isn’t generational if his team misses playoffs.

Right.

That’s just like, your opinion man.

 

[snipes]

yeah he's definitely a good playmaker. The difference is he's not a pass-first player, so he doesn't collect so many assists. In terms of actual passing ability/vision he is much better than his assist totals would have you believe

I think he just takes his opportunities to shoot, like I said he's a prolific and talented goal scorer but he doesn't seem to have elite playmaking ability like a prime Thornton for example.

Not saying he doesn't have the vision just it seemed odd for his playmaking to be pointed out by that posters when he has much better traits like shooting, edge work, board play, etc.

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

I think he just takes his opportunities to shoot, like I said he's a prolific and talented goal scorer but he doesn't seem have to elite playmaking ability like a prime Thornton for example.

Not saying he doesn't have the vision just it seemed odd for his playmaking to be pointed out by that posters when he has much better traits like shooting, edge work, board play, etc.

yeah he's not an elite playmaker, but he is very good. he doesn't have the mentality to cross the threshold into elite IMO, but that's fine with me.

 

[snipes]

yeah he's not an elite playmaker, but he is very good. he doesn't have the mentality to cross the threshold into elite IMO, but that's fine with me.

He should still be a consistent 40+ goal scorer. One quality he has that's really impressive is he finds those soft areas in the high danger areas and he can get his shot off quickly. That ability will translate to lots of goals.

 

[Critical13]

As of this very moment? Yeah he’s better. He’s not more valuable in the long run and obviously GMs would prefer to have Matthews but if the question is who would help you more in a hockey game tomorrow then the answer is obviously Wheeler. He’s been an absolutely dominate force this year and his 14 more points than Matthews in only 9 more games attests to this fact.

Very interesting. Do you think Wheeler is a better player than Scheifele as well?

 

[BlueBaron]

Tbh I'm an Oiler fan but looking at it neutrally, Leaf fans are more obsessed with McDavid (As in constantly pairing Matthews with McDavid when other people don't care).

Not neutral pal, totally biased. Look at all the comparison threads, started by Oiler fans. Look at this thread, started by an Oilers fan, there is a small but vocal segment of Oiler fans who are so threatened by Matthews and the attention he gets they will do anything to disparage him. They will lie, they will slander Leaf fans, heck look at the Oiler forums where they talk about what bad people Leaf fans are after a loss.

It's actually pretty one sided. Leaf fans will defend Matthews and we have our nuts too who provoke by saying Matthews is better but all Leaf fans get painted with that brush. Mention Kucherov and some Oiler fans go crazy. We pretty much only get annoyed when someone says Laine or Eichel is equal or better, some Oiler fans foam at the mouth if you say anything about McDavid that is not praising him. No one else could be better, no one else could be generational etc etc.

You could say "McDavid is not that great against the boards" or "Kucherov sure is playing at a high level, could he rival McDavid?" and you will be branded as having an agenda, a life time Oiler hated, bitter because your star player is not as good. A lot of crazy stuff comes out of this tiny group. When they get called on their lies, slander and bullshit they just move on to the next thread and start all over again.

Leaf fans in general do not give a crap about the Oiler and like McDavid.

 

[TIGERCOOL]

Tbh I'm an Oiler fan but looking at it neutrally, Leaf fans are more obsessed with McDavid (As in constantly pairing Matthews with McDavid when other people don't care).

what?

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

When one player has 45 points in 40 games and one has 31 in 30 you’d have to be pretty bad at math to think number of games played is the reason for the points difference. Wheeler is the best player on the Jets, who are better team than the Leafs. Not sure why Toronto fans are discounting him so much.

14 points in 10 games isn't a stretch for Matthews

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

He should still be a consistent 40+ goal scorer. One quality he has that's really impressive is he finds those soft areas in the high danger areas and he can get his shot off quickly. That ability will translate to lots of goals.

very true. he's so big and strong, but also his IQ at getting into position is ridiculous.

the big thing I want him to improve on is his work on the PP. it's not all his fault but man does that ever hurt his game. he's comfortably in the top 10 at ES in my opinion, but when you factor the PP in he drops out of the top 20 overall. It's pretty unfortunate

 

[JetsHomer]

Very interesting. Do you think Wheeler is a better player than Scheifele as well?

Yes. Wheeler is the best player on the Jets and has been for sometime.

 

[HarrisonFord]

5th in G/GP this year
5th in ESG despite playing 9 games less than those ahead of him
16th in P/GP this year

4th in G since he entered the league
1st in ESG since he entered the league
25th in P since he entered the league

Incredibly defensively
Drives corsi

But yeah it's so crazy to think he might be a top 10 forward in the league lol

 

[Eternal Leaf]

Can you add Wheeler to this so people can stop scoffing at him

Sure thing. I'll do the trio.

Wheeler: 8 G, 30 A, 38 Pts
Scheifele: 14 G, 20 A, 34 Pts
Laine: 15 G, 11 A, 26 Pts