I have been hearing the "Larkin has hit his peak" 3 seasons ago, and has been having career years since.Barzal just feels like the "ceiling" offensively is so much higher. Even if the production doesn't entirely bear that out. His vision and dynamic playmaking are just on a different level. Where Larkin is a good player, but feels like he's sort of hit his ceiling and plateaued as a player.
Maybe it's a bit of an illusion or a tease. But it feels like at any moment, Barzal could go from PPG to just explode into a completely different tier of player. If he just found the right linemates to cash in on his setups, and decided to shoot the puck a little bit more himself.
Last season + this one
Points: Larkin
Goals: Larkin
Points/Game: Larkin
+/- : Larkin
Even strength Points: Larkin
Faceoff%: Larkin
Hits: Larkin
..how exactly is Barzal winning this?
Because HFboards hates all things Red Wings, and has for a while. He's not our only player that gets disrespected on this site.Last season + this one
Points: Larkin
Goals: Larkin
Points/Game: Larkin
+/- : Larkin
Even strength Points: Larkin
Faceoff%: Larkin
Hits: Larkin
..how exactly is Barzal winning this?
He had a great season as a 20yr old and plays a flashier style that people like.
Yeah, theyre close as players but Barzal plays a flashy style that will draw peoples eye more in a game. Larkin is just a work horse who does a bit of everything at a very high level.
The last couple years their offense has been very comparable and I dont think anyone would argue Barzal as being as good as Larkin defensively. If I'm in a playoff series I would want Larkin as my number one center matched up with the other teams top guy over Barzal
Maybe im biased, but Barzal raises his game come playoffs, has great advanced stats in the playoffs, playing with average at best wingers. These 2 players are pretty comparable, but i dont know how you say youd prefer an older player with no track record in the playoffs, over the younger proven playoff performer.
Larkin doesn’t get any respect on these boards. I don’t think he even finishes top 50 in those summer center polls which says a lot about how underrated he is around here. It’s fine, we know how valuable he is and that’s all that really matters.Last season + this one
Points: Larkin
Goals: Larkin
Points/Game: Larkin
+/- : Larkin
Even strength Points: Larkin
Faceoff%: Larkin
Hits: Larkin
..how exactly is Barzal winning this?
Maybe im biased, but Barzal raises his game come playoffs, has great advanced stats in the playoffs, playing with average at best wingers. These 2 players are pretty comparable, but i dont know how you say youd prefer an older player with no track record in the playoffs, over the younger proven playoff performer.
lol what?
Barzal being a no show in the playoffs is a big reason NYI couldn't get over the Lightning in both years.
I’ll take the guy who played with a perimeter player and one of the slowest power forwards in the league for most of his career. Then again I also have a bias in my voting.