Why is Auston Matthews considered a top 10 player?

[BruinLVGA]

i would be shocked if you get more than a handful of leaf haters to say theyd rather have marchand than matthews. 90% say Matthews minimum. and 100% of GMs dump marchand in a heartbeat.

keep up the good fight. it's cute.

The old goal posts switcharoo...

You switched to trade value now. This is about who is currently the best player. All major numbers in hand (see “facts”), the answer is Marchand. But you already knew that, didn’t you.

 

[Bladerunner]

Matthews is hands down better than these players. Sorry it bothers you so much

Hands down better than Stamkos, Kuch and, what, most of the rest of those players on that list?

The kid is a top player and I actually like more than "hate" the Leafs. However have to admit it's these haughty Leafs fans (not all) on here that I and many others have had some fun replying to their ultra homer posts. One clown is bragging that the Leafs will most likely sweep the Caps if they meet this year

If the Leafs face the Bolts in the playoffs I think Matthews will have his hands and head down by the end That's if they can even get past their old rival, which is debatable.

 

[BruinLVGA]

at this rate you realize it's going to be Matthews by about 20 points right? and 10 or 15 goals?

Still behind Marchand in points... oops, I just did say that...

 

[McGuires Corndog]

He’s right there with the best of them.

Is he overrated by Leafs fans? Absolutely. That kind of comes with the territory, but most Leaf fans are reasonable and don’t think he’s better than McDavid or Crosby.

He’s underrated by a lot of other people though. Keep in mind he plays the most important position in the game, and at 20 is already solid at both ends of the ice.

 

[WetcoastOrca]

Matthews is hands down better than these players. Sorry it bothers you so much

This is where you smoke out the posters who only watch the home team.

 

[karnige]

If it's as obvious as the sky is blue then it should be able to be proven statistically.
Long story short, he is not yet a top 10 player.

problem with matthew worshippers is they use corsi and what ifs. in my world I look at points. generally if your a top 10 player you put up points. after that you look at other stats.

 

[joe dirte]

The old goal posts switcharoo...

You switched to trade value now. This is about who is currently the best player. All major numbers in hand (see “facts”), the answer is Marchand. But you already knew that, didn’t you.

even if it were just for this year.

 

[BruinLVGA]

He’s right there with the best of them.

Is he overrated by Leafs fans? Absolutely. That kind of comes with the territory, but most Leaf fans are reasonable and don’t think he’s better than McDavid or Crosby.

He’s underrated by a lot of other people though. Keep in mind he plays the most important position in the game, and at 20 is already solid at both ends of the ice.

Please point them to the forums.

 

[joe dirte]

Still behind Marchand in points... oops, I just did say that...

most even strength goals in the league. second most overall. on a team that controls his icetime.

he ruins any and every Bruins player.

 

[WetcoastOrca]

problem with matthew worshippers is they use corsi and what ifs. in my world I look at points. generally if your a top 10 player you put up points. after that you look at other stats.

Yep. If you want to be a top 10 player you need to have finished in the top 10 at a minimum or like Bergeron have an armful of Selkes.

 

[BruinLVGA]

even if it were just for this year.

Naw. Last year’s domination by Marchand, too. 85 points vs 69. So far, there’s not been any moment when Matthews performed better than Marchand since they were both in the league.

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

Marchand has only been scored on 3 times at 5v5 and has 32 points. he's pretty easily a top 10 player, although I'd probably still take Matthews

 

[joe dirte]

Naw. Last year’s domination by Marchand, too. 85 points vs 69. So far, there’s not been any moment when Matthews performed better than Marchand since they were both in the league.

40 goals. most even strength in the league. I guarantee you every single GM in the league takes Matthews over marchand without 1 second hesitationt. even if it's just for this year.

 

[joe dirte]

Marchand has only been scored on 3 times at 5v5 and has 32 points. he's pretty easily a top 10 player, although I'd probably still take Matthews

a good portion of that comes from being on Bergeron wing.

 

[WetcoastOrca]

40 goals. most even strength in the league. I guarantee you every single GM in the league takes Matthews over marchand without 1 second hesitationt. even if it's just for this year.

This year? I think many take Marchand.

 

[joe dirte]

This year? I think many take Marchand.

you think wrong.

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

a good portion of that comes from being on Bergeron wing.

Probably, but Marchand is still outscoring him. Matthews does what he does with anyone though, which is so valuable. he's so damn good at ES

 

[WetcoastOrca]

you think wrong.

Nope. Give me the guy who plays elite defense and has the offensive stats to prove he's top 10.
Hint: watch the guys in the other sweaters once in a while.

 

[SCampo98]

Blake Wheeler is a top tier player.

No, he's not.

 

[C77]

problem with matthew worshippers is they use corsi and what ifs. in my world I look at points. generally if your a top 10 player you put up points. after that you look at other stats.

Point totals are not the end all be all. And Matthews will get there soon enough anyway. I think if we are reasonable, then we can extrapolate what we have seen from Matthews to say he is a Top 10 player. He has the physical tools, he has the compete level, he has the skill, he plays the most important forward position. He is often a man amongst boys on the ice. I mean just look at the snipe he put on Carey Price last year....the stuff of legends.

 

[joe dirte]

Nope. Give me the guy who plays elite defense and has the offensive stats to prove he's top 10.
Hint: watch the guys in the other sweaters once in a while.

I do. you should drop the glasses and try so too.

I always know someone has nothing when they resort to "you must not watch them". it's the argument of someone without a real one.

 

[nturn06]

He's a PPG player, and has only been on the ice for 18 goals against at even-strength (and that's on one of the weaker defensive teams in the league).

By comparison, the guys listed by the OP:

McDavid - 35
Stamkos - 21
Kucherov - 25
Crosby - 36
Malkin - 30
Ovechkin -29
Tarasenko - 23
Tavares - 44
Benn - 31
Backstrom - 22
Kane - 32
Gaudreau - 29
Schiefele - 29
Wheeler - 32

So... he has better goals against stats than every single guy the OP listed. Obviously hockey is a team sport and guys goals against stats can be a bit misleading, but considering the context that Matthews is doing this on a below average defensive team in the NHL, I think it's very impressive.

Is he overhyped? Personally I think he gets virtually zero recognition for his defensive game, and I think his offensive game is hyped pretty fairly.

This is a common argument leaf fans are making: Matthews is better because he played fewer games/less time.

Personally I would take Stamkos 21 GA in 38 games every day over Matthews' 18 GA in 30 games, but that's probably just me.

I love how you guys always talk abut PPG and P/60 mins to inflate his offensive numbers, but never consider them when looking at defense...

 

[WetcoastOrca]

I do. you should drop the glasses and try so too.

What glasses? I'm not a Bruins fan. And Marchand irritates the hell out of me!
I'm just a hockey fan who appreciates watching great players no matter who they play for. You should try it!

 

[GoJetsGo55]

No, he's not.

Top 10 in scoring over the past 5 seasons isn't good enought?

NHL Player Stats in Last 5 Seasons

I should add, when I say top tier, my tiers are pretty wide open. Top tier for me is the top 15 players in the league. I am not saying Wheeler = Crosby.

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

No, he's not.

he's #8 in points. he's quite easily a top tier player