Matthews is the better player as of now because he's more proven.
With that said, I do believe EP will the better player in the long run, hence I voted for him. He's tracking to have the better rookie season playing with less support, worser team in general.
I would not trade EP for AM.
Some notes:
-When you watch him play, you can see how this kid is very talented where his points, he is accumulating are based on his skills to the game. He's not lucky or is one some "hot streak" which is what some uneducated people would say. Sure his shooting percentage will go down, but that will be compensated as he will garner a lot more assists. His career projectory will likely put him over PPG provided he has Boeser and Hughes on the back end for the years to go.
-Kid has a elite shot, elite playmaking, very high IQ, he can do it all. He can score from any area. I'd say he's more skilled than Matthews.
-Matthews has the benefit of playing with better linemates as a whole, a better offensive team, and has some offensive support in the back end. Petterson doesn't.
-Pettersson was saddled with Derrik Pouliot on the back end during the PP, and regular linemates were generally Eriksson and Goldobin. A third line slow defensive forward and a unproven 23 yr old Russian's who's best career points in total are of a measly 14.
14 of Pettersson's 15 points are primary. Let that sink in. He's doing it on a offensively starving team, playing only 9 games so far.
-He's already the team's best player playing just 9 games in.
