2nd best player in the league!

[Saidin]

Helly

 

[Garthinater]

Yeah, because polls with Matthews on hfboards always get it right.

Not a single team takes Matthews over Barkov, not a single ranking by anyone involved in the game has Barkov over Matthews.

Not a single team takes matthews over barkov eh? I disagree but with matthews contract I can definitely see quite a few teams take barkov.

They are very close. The only ones who think otherwise are hard core leaf homers who have been wrong going on 50+ years lol

 

[BCNate]

He's scores in more games than any other player, and he's a dominant two-way player. Your opinion is wrong.

Well, his 13 career Selke votes over 4 years don't really support your opinion, nor do they change mine.

 

[authentic]

Well, his 13 career Selke votes over 4 years don't really support your opinion, nor do they change mine.

Your opinion is not grounded in reality, so that's fine. By the way, two-way includes offense so you have the best goal scorer who's well above average defensively.

 

[Holymakinaw]

McKinnon.

Draisaitl is great offensively and will get more points, but his defensive game is terrible. So for that reason, it's McKinnon.

 

[BCNate]

Your opinion is not grounded in reality, so that's fine. By the way, two-way includes offense so you have the best goal scorer who's well above average defensively.

I agree with that take 100%. Elite offensively, above average defensively.

 

[780il]

Pretty obviously between Mack and Drai, can’t go wrong with either. Hedman and Panarin follow up after those two.

 

[Tobias Kahun]

He's scores in more games than any other player, and he's a dominant two-way player. Your opinion is wrong.

Matthews is not a dominant defensive player.

He's average defensively.

 

[Dion TheFluff]

you're honestly just making us Leafs fans look bad

it's really not that much of a stretch at all if you consider him the 2nd best player in the league IMO.
The guy is kind of running away with the goalscoring race while playing a fairly complete game as well.

 

[tacogeoff]

Drai for me. Mack right behind him

 

[Buck Naked]

I agree with that take 100%. Elite offensively, above average defensively.

I wonder why that only applies to Matthews? Draisaitl never got that benefit. And he's even better than Matthews offensively.

 

[Conspiracy Theorist]

Yeah, because polls with Matthews on hfboards always get it right.

Not a single team takes Matthews over Barkov, not a single ranking by anyone involved in the game has Barkov over Matthews.

And they would be wrong. It's no wonder cup champs recently have had two-way centers.

 

[authentic]

And they would be wrong. It's no wonder cup champs recently have had two-way centers.

Matthews is a two-way center. They all also have stacked teams.

 

[Just Linda]

I'll take Matthews. He might not be as good as an all-round player as Barkov or Mac but his finishing puts him ahead of them.

 

[McFlash97]

McKinnon.

Draisaitl is great offensively and will get more points, but his defensive game is terrible. So for that reason, it's McKinnon.

Lol

What a terrible blanket statement. Draisaitls defensive game has been immaculate this season.

 

[Holymakinaw]

Lol

What a terrible blanket statement. Draisaitls defensive game has been immaculate this season.

LOL. Um, yeah. Immaculate.

 

[Rants Mulliniks]

I wonder why that only applies to Matthews? Draisaitl never got that benefit. And he's even better than Matthews offensively.

Drai has gotten the benefit of being considered a centre his whole career while only spending a fraction of his time there.

 

[Buck Naked]

Drai has gotten the benefit of being considered a centre his whole career while only spending a fraction of his time there.

What are you saying? Want us to call Matthews a goalie?

 

[Steven Toast]

Drai has gotten the benefit of being considered a centre his whole career while only spending a fraction of his time there.

What on earth are you talking about? The biggest detraction against Draisaitl his whole career has been that many don't consider him a centre. While in reality he can play both C and W at a top 3 level which further increases his value.

 

[Contenderorpretender]

Panarin.... I wonder what he would do playing with McDavid, Rantanen or Marner. He's soooooo good.

 

[SotasicA]

What if I told you the first and second best players in the league are both goalies?

It is by far the most evolved position in the game, and far ahead of the others in impact to the game.

 

[McJesusSaves97]

What if I told you the first and second best players in the league are both goalies?

It is by far the most evolved position in the game, and far ahead of the others in impact to the game.

You would be wrong twice

 

[SotasicA]

You would be wrong twice

Well then, players in what other position would you say have improved more in their respective jobs? Were you to compare them to their, say, 80's counterparts. Or 60's.

 

[The Moose is Loose]

McKinnon.

Draisaitl is great offensively and will get more points, but his defensive game is terrible. So for that reason, it's McKinnon.

This comes off as really uneducated. When Draisaitl plays center he is very sound defensively. Especially this year

 

[Buck Naked]

Well then, players in what other position would you say have improved more in their respective jobs? Were you to compare them to their, say, 80's counterparts. Or 60's.

The players are of course a lot more skilled now as well, it just doesn't show when looking at points. Drop any random NHLer from the 80s into a NCAA game today and they would probably have no chance.