Sidney the Kidney
One last time
- Jun 29, 2009
- 55,869
- 47,101
League wide placement isn't a perfect indicator but everybody that seasons plays under the same circumstances. If you want to compare them individually and take Mackinnon then sure, I think they played in similar circumstances on their respective teams. If you want to argue Mackinnon ahead because there's a big enough difference in production then sure, there's a case there, not going to fault the argument there when there's a 20-30 point difference despite scoring era.
Not the same for Matthews vs Tavares, Matthews plays on a significantly better team and was only on pace to outscore Tavares by 7 points. Tavares outscored his next highest teammate by 35 points. Scoring has opened up significantly, every player will look better when there's more power plays and smaller goalie equipment. Not seeing an argument for a guy who finished on pace for 94 points in 2020 in 9th place over a 2nd place finish in 2015 with 87 points.
Disagreement about that season of Tavares' aside, I also think you have to look at the question of the poll. Peak seasons, plural. Even IF I granted you that one season where he finished second for the Art Ross as being better than Matthews, I think the production Matthews has put up the past 3 seasons running is better than any three consecutive stretch Tavares had in his peak. And just like Tavares missing out on the Art Ross by 1 point in 2015, Matthews missed out on the Rocket this past year by 1 goal.
Plus, Matthews' defensive performance last year was better than any defense Tavares played during his peak years. Tavares was a one-dimensional offensive player, bad defensive player for much of his time with the Islanders. He started to improve later on, but his offense took a hit in the process. And even now I'd say Tavares is "average" at best defensively, whereas I think Matthews has shown to be above average.