Oh yeah, that's the f***ing difference between a primadonna and a bull.HFBoards loves era adjustments now but don't you dare mention that Ovi played 15 minutes a night on the powerplay.
Ovi easily AINEC even when accounting for Matthews' 200 ft play.
Matthews has a higher ES goals against per game than Ovechkin did in 2008. Matthews is also surrounded by far superior defensive players than Ovechkin was in 2008.
So how is it we arrive at the result that Matthews is the far superior defensive player?
If you think all Ovi in 08 was sit around waiting for passes all day then you’re either too young to be posting on HF or completely lying to yourself.Matthews is the way more complete player.
If you kept Matthews on the wing, gave him 0 defensive responsibility and didn't make him take face-offs and instead just waited on the opposite circle for a pass - he would score much more.
The Ovechkin today gives a lot more defensive effort than 08 Ovechkin.. and it's still pretty suspect.
Who are these superior defensive players you speak of?
Yes, I do.You want to compare blue lines? From the 2008 Capitals? Seriously? Most of them were out of the NHL within a few years. They were pretty bad.
Yes, I do.
HFBoards loves era adjustments now but don't you dare mention that Ovi played 15 minutes a night on the powerplay.
So long as the power play opportunities keep presenting themselves.Ovi easily AINEC even when accounting for Matthews' 200 ft play. Guy was a goal scoring machine during the DPE and was a monster that year he scored 65. Nobody in the league nor on his team was even close. Ovi would easily be getting 70-80 goals if he was in his prime in this era.
You’re trolling right? It was the opposite if you ever watched those seasons live.Ov ainec, not only scored but could play defensive. Matthews has never heard of back checking
Ovi easily AINEC even when accounting for Matthews' 200 ft play. Guy was a goal scoring machine during the DPE and was a monster that year he scored 65. Nobody in the league nor on his team was even close. Ovi would easily be getting 70-80 goals if he was in his prime in this era.
I don’t think Ovechkin would have issue out scoring Kucherov or Mackinnon today at all if he were in his prime. Go look how elite Mackinnon and Kucherov were before the goalie gear shrinkage in 2017-18. An often forgot about change I never see mentioned when comparing scoring now to the Ovie/Sid/Malkin era.Okay... I can understand this argument that maybe peak Ovechkin wouldn't have led the League in points if he was competing against this season's MacKinnon, Kucherov and McDavid.
However, I am confident he would be ahead of Panarin and Pasta. Matthews isn't at this point.
Ovechkin had less help as well. He had way more points than Backstrom. Matthews isn't too far ahead of Nylander.
We can get into PP scoring and all that, but I personally would prefer having Ovechkin at Even Strength. @Regal said he thinks there's a difference between possession and tilting the ice and I agree. I think tilting the ice is about pushing the play toward the opponent's goal and slanting the ice in your team's favor. It's been a long time since he did it at a high level, but at his best Ovie did that better than almost any player I've ever seen. He was a master at transition and a menace on the forecheck. He didn't need to play much defense because he was too busy wrecking guys, scoring goals and pushing the play toward the other team's end.
Do you think a 22 year old Ovechkin in today's NHL would score more or less goals than Matthews this season?HFBoards loves era adjustments now but don't you dare mention that Ovi played 15 minutes a night on the powerplay.
yeah and that total of 112 points would still be 24 points behind this year. if there was a McDavid/MacKinnon/Kuch back then Ovechkin likely wouldnt have won that Art RossThe goal totals really don’t matter. It’s that Ovi led the league in scoring while Matthews is tied for 6th.. a whopping THIRTY points behind the leader.