Auston Matthews vs Nathan MacKinnon

[tony d]

Went with MacKinnon.

 

[bert]

What I was going to say. Mack was nothing without Rantanen. Matthews can drive a line by himself.

FALSE

Mackinnon was no where near Matthews level two years ago, people won't admit it but it's damn well true.

He won the rookie of the year when at the same age Matthews was playing in Switzerland. People can look these types of things up you know.

 

[The Abusement Park]

I know everyone likes to bring up Mack’s linemates for his success and they definitely help. But imagine if Mack had an elite 1C behind him that could draw the attention away from his line. Mack goes out every night as the only point of focus from other team and still dominates most nights. That’s pretty special.

 

[Connor McConnor]

It's funny how MacK's "struggling" first 4 years including him winning the Calder and helping a trash Avs team make it to the playoffs (sound familiar?) and then the next 3 years he had a 55-60 point pace playing on one of the worst lineups in NHL history (hence the sub 40 point season). He finally gets ONE good player on his team and starts producing but the only rebuttal from Leafs fans is that he was nothing without Rants? It's a complete joke of an argument. Matthews is a great player but he has NEVER produced the way MacK has been producing for the past 1.5 seasons and the only argument you could possibly make is that you PROJECT him to even get to where MacK is now and then surpass him?

 

[The List Of Jericho]

FALSE



He won the rookie of the year when at the same age Matthews was playing in Switzerland. People can look these types of things up you know.

I said two years ago....Mackinnon has been in the league for 5 now and his ROY season was no where as dominant as Matthews.

 

[BAM]

To be fair, it's a smaller sample size and this season is higher scoring than last season.

That ppg is still 6th in the league this year. Rantanen is ahead of Mackinnon in that regard this season as well.

 

[dmac7719]

I know everyone likes to bring up Mack’s linemates for his success and they definitely help. But imagine if Mack had an elite 1C behind him that could draw the attention away from his line. Mack goes out every night as the only point of focus from other team and still dominates most nights. That’s pretty special.

Don't forget that Matthews has had the privilege of playing for a HOF coach, whereas Mack has had 2 rookie coaches.

 

[Foppberg]

I hope we're not going to have to deal with Leafs fans insecurities about Matthews for the next 15 years.

 

[I am not exposed]

Matthews is more overrated than Toews was a few years ago.

lol. I never it would be possible for a player to be more overrated than Toews!

 

[BAM]

It's funny how MacK's "struggling" first 4 years including him winning the Calder and helping a trash Avs team make it to the playoffs (sound familiar?) and then the next 3 years he had a 55-60 point pace playing on one of the worst lineups in NHL history (hence the sub 40 point season). He finally gets ONE good player on his team and starts producing but the only rebuttal from Leafs fans is that he was nothing without Rants? It's a complete joke of an argument. Matthews is a great player but he has NEVER produced the way MacK has been producing for the past 1.5 seasons and the only argument you could possibly make is that you PROJECT him to even get to where MacK is now and then surpass him?

Mackinnon had a 1.31ppg last year, Matthews has a 1.33ppg this year. Mackinnon has a 1.41ppg this year and Rantanen is higher than him.

Matthews is already close to Mackinnon's production and he doesn't play with a winger close to the caliber of Rantanen. Rantanen is outscoring Mackinnon....

 

[Connor McConnor]

Mackinnon had a 1.31ppg last year, Matthews has a 1.33ppg this year. Mackinnon has a 1.41ppg this year and Rantanen is higher than him.

Matthews is already close to Mackinnon's production and he doesn't play with a winger close to the caliber of Rantanen. Rantanen is outscoring Mackinnon....

Matthews is the 3rd best forward on his own team this year and goes against 2nd pairings. You could make the argument he has been the 6th best player behind Andersen and Reilly (Vezina and Norris winners right?). Maybe he should try jumping into his own team's top 3 before we start comparing him to Hart and Art Ross Candidates. In case you didn't know having more than 1 line actually helps the other guy.

Also, how long are we going to just use PPG to defend Matthews and finally using the actual stats over the full season? I know Leaf fans will use whatever statistic helps build their case but the whole PPG thing is starting to wear off. Can he finally stay healthy for a whole season and hit 70 before we start projecting a 100+ point player?

 

[Spilot23]

Difference is we know what Mackinnon produced like before Rantanen got there. Matthews put up his rookie season numbers with Brown, Hyman and Nylander as his main wingers. He had a 1.03ppg in his sophmore year with Nylander and Hyman and this year he's put up a 1.33 ppg with Johnsson, Brown, Kapanen and rusty Nylander as his linemates. It doesn't mater who Matthews linemates have been, he's kept producing and progressing. Those linemates you mentioned of his besides Marner and Tavares lead the team to the worst overall spot in the league before Matthews rookie year. They've improved since but it's not like those players were what they are now when Matthews first entered the league.

Mackinnon had 4 years worth of games to judge him off without Rantanen and the Avs made the playoffs his rookie year.

Same hypocrites that'll say Rielly's production is inflated because of the team he plays for will also say Mackinnon didn't see a massive spike in his production after being put on a stacked line with Rantanen and Landy.

You would think that Matthews has been playing with scrubs in his rookie season. Rantanen putted up 38pts in his rookie season while Nylander had 60pts with Matthews. And yet some people here called Rantanen a 50-55pts guy.

 

[spiny norman]

Lopsided result.