2024 Matthews vs 2008 Ovi: Who's better player?

[User9992]

Auston Matthews just tied Ovi's 65 goals in a single season record... and most likely will eclipse it.





But who is/was a better player? Current Matthews



or 2008 Ovi?

Click to read more...

 

[HolyHagelin]

My snap reaction is OV but if i am being honest i have not seen enough matthews this year to really say. When i have seen him he hasnt scored.

 

[lokomotiv15]

I’m not trying to be an old man yelling at a cloud but, coming from a Pens fan who hated Ovie, people that didn’t see him back then have no idea. He controlled and dominated games on most nights like Matthews might be able to 7-10 times a season; this year included.

 

[nowhereman]

2008 OV was a force of nature. Easy answer here.

 

[The Grim Reaper]

League scoring is 13% higher this season than in 2007-2008.

That's without bringing up the fact that Ovechkin was a much more physical force than Matthews.

I think people forget how feral players were still in 2007-2008 compared to now. Cheapshot artists were rampant, physical play was still prioritized. It was a very physical league.





Matthews would have been raptured after collisions like that.

 

[Maplebeasts]

Matthews is a center and significantly better defensive player while matching Ovi's point and goal production without nearly as much powerplay time. Ovi is an all time great goal scoring winger but he isn't a better overall player than peak Matthews.

 

[Miro4Norris]

Production wise Ovi but Matthews is better defensively

 

[Regal]

Ovechkin was just a more dominant player. His overall production was better relative to the league, and while he had more PP time, he also had less support. Matthews is better defensively, but Ovechkin tilted the ice more and I think puck-dominant players are simply more conducive to winning (it’s a reason why I wasn’t as big on post-peak Ovechkin). I mean, Ovechkin’s year was held up as the best post-lockout season by the vast majority of people up until McDavid’s year last year, and now the 4th best forward this year is better? That doesn’t pass the smell test.

 

[Luigi Lemieux]

2008 was low scoring and Ovechkin also won the art ross. Has to be him.

 

[Connor McConnor]

AM is a goal scorer. Prime Ovi dominated the game like McDavid. A Russian winger had more assists than an NA Centre in a lower scoring era.

Not close. AM is not even in the top 3 best players this year.

 

[Offtheboard412]

As far as goal scoring goes it's very close. Ovechkin was the better all around offensive player. Matthews 2 way game brings it close, but Ovechkin was simply the biggest game breaker in the league at the time. There was no system to stop him, he broke systems. He could shoot through your legs, blow past you with speed, lower his shoulder and power by you, or make you look silly with his 1 on 1 puck skills. He made 1 on 2 and 2 on 3 situations feel just as dangerous as a breakaway.

 

[Montreal Shadow]

Matthews is a center and significantly better defensive player while matching Ovi's point and goal production without nearly as much powerplay time. Ovi is an all time great goal scoring winger but he isn't a better overall player than peak Matthews.

Matthews isn’t sniffing scoring titles. Ovechkin was at one point the best offensive player in the league sweeping all the major awards at once. Matthews might not even get one besides the Rocket.

It’s Ovechkin.

 

[Connor McConnor]

Matthews is a center and significantly better defensive player while matching Ovi's point and goal production without nearly as much powerplay time. Ovi is an all time great goal scoring winger but he isn't a better overall player than peak Matthews.

This better overall player doesn’t impact winning like Ovi, is worse in the playoffs, literally CANT compete for Rosses, and is regularly outside the top 3 in Hart consideration. But yeah, he’s better overall lmao. He’s a centre who gets less assists than a goal first winger.

 

[Buck Naked]

Ovie 07/08 without a single doubt. That is a season for the ages.

 

[Perfect_Drug]

OV swept the Art Ross, Hart, Rocket, and Lindsay.


2008 OV was an absolute wrecking ball.
He wasn't the stationary sniper he is now. He was crashing everything with speed, and relentlessly hitting and shooting and creating scoring chances out of nothing.

 

[Burkeocet]

People forget how good Ovi was at his peak. The trophies were all his. He was a game breaker on another level and won the Art Ross that year too.

 

[Breakfast of Champs]

This is the definition of AINEC ....Ovi.

Matthews is nowhere near the production of the league leaders, peak ovi was better goal scorer (era adjusted) and a faaar better point producer and was able to win the AR

 

[Connor McConnor]

This is the definition of AINEC ....Ovi.

Matthews is nowhere near the production of the league leaders, peak ovi was better goal scorer (era adjusted) and a faaar better point producer and was able to win the AR

but was he the Selke level defender Matthews is? And what was his ESP/60

 

[Despote]

Matthews is nowhere near the production of the league leaders, peak ovi was better goal scorer (era adjusted)

Was he?

 

[Nathaniel Skywalker]

Matthews 2 way game makes it not a blow out. But i remember ovechkin from those days. Just a freight that had unreal speed and was on another level offensively. Gotta take OV.

 

[Arthur Morgan]

their numbers are really close. hard not to be biased but generally I find C as the harder position with alot more responsibility but Ovechkin went off that year. also ALOT less skill in the league overall back then I mean Ovechkin's 112 points is still 24 points behind the current leader this season.

but to all of you who think Matthews isn't even close. how many more goals does Matthews need to trump Ovechkin's 08 season?

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

AM is a goal scorer. Prime Ovi dominated the game like McDavid. A Russian winger had more assists than an NA Centre in a lower scoring era.

Not close. AM is not even in the top 3 best players this year.

How is the guy with 65 goals not in the top 3 players this year?

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

their numbers are really close. hard not to be biased but generally I find C as the harder position with alot more responsibility but Ovechkin went off that year. also ALOT less skill in the league overall back then I mean Ovechkin's 112 points is still 24 points behind the current leader this season.

but to all of you who think Matthews isn't even close. how many more goals does Matthews need to trump Ovechkin's 08 season?

They won't answer that question, even if he scored 93 It wouldn't matter.

The reality is he needs 1 more.

 

[lokomotiv15]

How is the guy with 65 goals not in the top 3 players this year?

Because Mcdavid, Mackinnon and Kucherov also play in the league this season.

 

[ijuka]

Look at season scoring differences. Ovechkin also won the scoring race, while Matthews is nowhere near.

How is the guy with 65 goals not in the top 3 players this year?

Probably because 3 players have 130+ points and he has 102?