definitely in agreement with ya here. Anaheim has better scoring players, just as good scoring depth, and BETTER checking line players.
Let's see...
C:
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Koivu >> Macdonald (yes, mcd had more points, but I don't think a GM in the league doesn't pick Koivu)
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Getzlaf > Plekanec
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Bonk = Marchant (salary aside, I think I prefer Bonk with the habs if only cuz of his size... but i think both players bring similar value)
- Begin > Pahlsson (Don't know much about pahlsson, but Begin is perhaps the best grind/energy line player in the league)
RW:
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Kovalev < Selanne ( kovalev may have a better all around skill set, but selanne plays with much more determination... damn I wish I could see koivu/selanne together in the NHL!)
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Ryder > Perry (perry may have better upside, but right now Ryder is the more proven/established player)
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Johnson > Niedemayer (Johnson brings more off punch to the table and both are solid defensive forwards)
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Green > Latendresse (lats has better potential, but green is the better player today)
LW:
Higgins >> Penner (Penner was impresive in the playoffs last year, but Higgins is a gem on the verge of stardom)
Samsonov = Kunitz (potential may go to kunitz, but Samsonov is still a dynamo)
Perez > Moen (they play different games, but I'd take perez)
Murray = Fedoruk/Shannon (a pick'em imo)
both teams have a big ? european forward waiting in the wings with great potential but serious questions (chistov/kots)
I may not have matched each player properly according to where they currently sit in their teams depth charts, but overall I think that the two teams have a very similar pool of talent depth at forward, with the long term edge going to ANH, but the right now edge slightly in MTL's favor...
Either way I find it amusing that some posters wildly champion either club as being much better than the other.
That all said, IMO Latendresse will prove to be the better of the two players. Ryan has skating issues wich (even with good coaching) will hurt his Professional progress and make him a later bloomer, whereas Latendress is getting a great early start to his career in an almost ideal situation (great coach to round out his game in Carboneau, a full season or two playing in the NHL with no pressure to produce from the team -the media is a different story-)
but only time will tell!