Shwaguy*
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Before anyone says anything I think Laine can be a 40/40 guys too but I have more faith in Matthews to reach that and would be less surprised to see Matthews surpass that plateau.
You didn't get what I was aiming at saying. Laine hasn't shown his best that often so far, and Matthews has shown his best a lot. It's about who has a larger margin to evolve, that's what I meant. Matthews is already close to NHL level, if not an NHL level player, but Laine isn't in some ways. Laine therefore has more room to evolve compared to Matthews.
You didn't get what I was aiming at saying. Laine hasn't shown his best that often so far, and Matthews has shown his best a lot. It's about who has a larger margin to evolve, that's what I meant. Matthews is already close to NHL level, if not an NHL level player, but Laine isn't in some ways. Laine therefore has more room to evolve compared to Matthews.
But yeah Matthews is MORE dynamic than Laine, not less. There is only one thing that Laine has that is more dynamic than Matthews and that is his slapshot/one timer. Everything is else tied or advantage Matthews and Laine's one timer does not outweigh that.
This thread is about whos better prospect/has higher ceiling/bettar at the moment. Not what Leafs should draft.
Matthews is the safe unremarkable option.
Essentially what you are saying is that because Matthews is more NHL ready, he has the lower ceiling.
I think it's more than that. Matthews seems to have the all the creativity beaten out of him. He is afraid of making mistakes and hence does not have the mentality of a star player. He will make the safe play 10 times out of 10.
Laine does not have this mentality. He is much more ambitious on the ice, confident that he can take risks due to his ability.
Laine has better wrister, hands and is better at protecting the puck. Might have better top speed. Plays very physical.
He can take any kind of shot anywhere in the offensive zone and it will be dangerous.
He will be a nightmare to defend against once he gets some muscle and acceleration.
If Matthews has 40 goal potential then Laine definitely has 50 goal potential IMO.
This is nonsense no he doesn't/
Just because Matthews is better now does not mean Laine has more room to grow. This idea that just because he has a high floor a player has a low ceiling is ridiculous.
Matthews is better now AND he has higher upside. This is why he is the number 1 pick. Even if Laine were a center, he's still the number 1 pick.
Love the detractors trying to downplay him as a 60 point 2 way center.... He'll be close to that in his rookie season (Eichel 56 points and he's as good or better than Eichel according to most now that he has his draft year under his belt....Outproduced Eichel at the same age).
Try 80 point 2 way center. Top 10 scoring potential with the ability to maybe dip into the top 5 in a couple of years. Laine has similar upside offensively but away from the puck Matthews takes the cake and he can still very much grow in that department as well.
I want Matthews big time but even I can see that Laine has the potential to be a beast!!.
If he fills out, adapts to less time/space, learns a 2 way game and uses his size he has Jagr level upside.
Thing is Matthews is way safer to hit his 80+ point 2 way franchiser C upside than Laine does JAgr.
Then even if they both hit their full potential it then comes down to preference, the 50 goal 100 point winger or the 80 point do it all center.
You didn't get what I was aiming at saying. Laine hasn't shown his best that often so far, and Matthews has shown his best a lot. It's about who has a larger margin to evolve, that's what I meant. Matthews is already close to NHL level, if not an NHL level player, but Laine isn't in some ways. Laine therefore has more room to evolve compared to Matthews.
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Do you not see how ridiculous that sounds? Because Laine isn't as good now means he can be that much better, really?
Essentially what you are saying is that because Matthews is more NHL ready, he has the lower ceiling.
As a Jet's fan, im just so incredibly excited to have the opportunity to get one of these guys at the draft. I agree with the Crosby and Ovi comparisons regarding the differences in their style of game (not saying that they will be Crosby and Ovi). im 90% certain that we will be taking Laine with the 2nd pick and couldn't be happier.
I think with two very highly touted prospects, you take the C every time, unless the winger is clearly above (the Fins vs PLD as an example). Both players are outstanding and will be bringing a much needed breath of fresh air to the organizations they go to. As Matthews is more well rounded at this time and considering his C position, along with the Leafs need for a #1C (franchise potential nonetheless), he will be the #1 pick this draft. He also the majority consensus as well. However it is noted that some scouts have Laine #1 and some teams have admitted this as well (Per Bob Mack). This doesn't make them wrong either. If his skating was on par or better than Matthews, would he be considered the better prospect to most of you? Everyone will have varying opinions and the back and forth in this thread tearing apart the other prospect to justify their own opinion is a joke. They most likely will have long successful careers in the NHL and who will have the more successful career is yet to be seen, despite anyone's opinion or projections.
See, no. That's what people don't get. Laine doesn't have higher offensive upside than Matthews. At the very least not 20 points more.
Laine doesn't have 50 goal 100 point upside. That's just wild.
“I can’t honestly recall scouting a forward over 6-4 with a skill set as similar to Mario’s as Laine’s,†says McCagg. “The way he creates space when he has the puck, his hands, his release, his shot, his vision…maybe he’s not quite at Mario’s level…but he’s not that far off. He’s a tier above Rick Nash at the same age…and as we know both Nash and Mario were first overall picks. I have a hard time thinking anyone should be drafted ahead of him even if I really like Matthews a lot…I see a future 50-goal NHL scorer, maybe a 60-goal guy. I don’t see that same upside with Matthews.â€
Essentially what you are saying is that because Matthews is more NHL ready, he has the lower ceiling.
Well, that's just your opinion.
Now let's see what a scout has to say:
http://www.mckeenshockey.com/prospects-blog/mckeens-2016-top-30-nhl-draft-rankings-apr-2016/
I don't claim to know the future. If I gave that impression then I probably did not word my post correctly. I do have a strong opinion about this comparison but I am certainly not infallible.
It would be close if Laine's skating were as good as Matthews, but that is a massive advantage that Matthews holds on Laine and should continue to hold throughout their careers.
As a Jet's fan, im just so incredibly excited to have the opportunity to get one of these guys at the draft. I agree with the Crosby and Ovi comparisons regarding the differences in their style of game (not saying that they will be Crosby and Ovi). im 90% certain that we will be taking Laine with the 2nd pick and couldn't be happier.
I think with two very highly touted prospects, you take the C every time, unless the winger is clearly above (the Fins vs PLD as an example). Both players are outstanding and will be bringing a much needed breath of fresh air to the organizations they go to. As Matthews is more well rounded at this time and considering his C position, along with the Leafs need for a #1C (franchise potential nonetheless), he will be the #1 pick this draft. He also the majority consensus as well. However it is noted that some scouts have Laine #1 and some teams have admitted this as well (Per Bob Mack). This doesn't make them wrong either. If his skating was on par or better than Matthews, would he be considered the better prospect to most of you? Everyone will have varying opinions and the back and forth in this thread tearing apart the other prospect to justify their own opinion is a joke. They most likely will have long successful careers in the NHL and who will have the more successful career is yet to be seen, despite anyone's opinion or projections.
Well, that's just your opinion.
Now let's see what a scout has to say:
http://www.mckeenshockey.com/prospects-blog/mckeens-2016-top-30-nhl-draft-rankings-apr-2016/