Holymakinaw
Registered User
Who's the better Centre, right now? Hard to compare a veteran to a kid, but these two are much closer in talent level than Pettersson/Matthews, so I thought it a better comparison. Forget contracts, as one is still on his first deal and one has "cashed in" already. With the playoffs coming up this summer, who do you like to help your team win NOW?
Last year:
Tavares had 47 goals and 88 points, and was good defensively and on draws...........Pettersson had 28 goals and 66 points, and was good defensively.
This year:
In 63 games, Tavares had 26 goals and 60 points...........in 68 games, Pettersson had 27 goals and 66 points.
* Tavares has topped out as a 30-40 goal, 70-85 point Centre(148 points in 145 games for Toronto, but no playoff rounds won yet). He scores a lot of goals and is a great faceoff guy. Great hands. Not the best skater out there. Great at entering the zone and protecting the puck and creating offence. Always plays against the other team's top players and while he's not winning any Selke's, he is good defensively.
* Pettersson looks to have a similar ceiling. A couple of 66 point seasons to start, but will very likely better that. Great hands and hockey IQ. Looks to be a budding "point getter" and generates most of the offence for his line. Also a sound two-way player. Remains to be seen if he takes it to the next level. Vancouver fans seem to feel pretty confident of it. Some of us other fans are likely a little hard on him. Take all that with whatever grains of salt you like.
So in a vacuum.......who do you take, to win a cup NOW?
Last year:
Tavares had 47 goals and 88 points, and was good defensively and on draws...........Pettersson had 28 goals and 66 points, and was good defensively.
This year:
In 63 games, Tavares had 26 goals and 60 points...........in 68 games, Pettersson had 27 goals and 66 points.
* Tavares has topped out as a 30-40 goal, 70-85 point Centre(148 points in 145 games for Toronto, but no playoff rounds won yet). He scores a lot of goals and is a great faceoff guy. Great hands. Not the best skater out there. Great at entering the zone and protecting the puck and creating offence. Always plays against the other team's top players and while he's not winning any Selke's, he is good defensively.
* Pettersson looks to have a similar ceiling. A couple of 66 point seasons to start, but will very likely better that. Great hands and hockey IQ. Looks to be a budding "point getter" and generates most of the offence for his line. Also a sound two-way player. Remains to be seen if he takes it to the next level. Vancouver fans seem to feel pretty confident of it. Some of us other fans are likely a little hard on him. Take all that with whatever grains of salt you like.
So in a vacuum.......who do you take, to win a cup NOW?