Backstrom + Kuznetsov vs. Tavares + Matthews

[WetcoastOrca]

Matthews is better defensively than Backstrom?

No he’s not. He may get there but Backstrom is better defensively right now.

 

[Doyoulikeapples*]

Kuznetsov>Tavares
Backstrom>Matthews

Crazy

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

Yes. I say that very confidently actually.

Based on? I mean, simply stating it confidently doesn't make it so.

 

[Portable Mink]

do the Caps win with Matthews and Tavares instead of those 2?

No.

 

[Stephen]

Will love to see this in action and not on a message board!

 

[ricky0034]

Neither Cap outscores his Leaf counterpart.

is there some rule where pace only matters for the Leaf player?

Backstrom had 9 more points than Matthews and Matthews had a higher PPG
Tavares had 1 more point than Kuznetsov and Kuznetsov had a higher PPG

 

[DDRhockey]

Yes. I say that very confidently actually.

I just made that thread. I got an infraction for loopsided poll in backstroms favor

https://hfboards.mandatory.com/threads/better-defensive-center-backstrom-vs-matthews.2510667/

 

[BayStreetBully]

Before the playoffs, I would’ve said Matthews and Tavares, but the Washington duo get a bump for winning the latest cup.

Both great center duos. Both top 3 in the league. I’ll go with Washington just ahead of Toronto as of summer 2018.

 

[Captain97]

Very close but I'll give Edge to TO as they are younger and have a better 3c.

 

[Tad Mikowsky]

Before the playoffs, I would’ve said Matthews and Tavares, but the Washington duo get a bump for winning the latest cup.

Both great center duos. Both top 3 in the league. I’ll go with Washington just ahead of Toronto as of summer 2018.

Matthews and Tavares ahead of both Crosby Malkin and McDavid Draisaitl is quite the hot take.

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

This is easy.

Kuznetsov
Backstrom
Tavares
Matthews

Let Matthews hit 70pts before comparing him to the big boys. Tavares is also overrated.

anything is easy when you put no thought or effort into it. It took Kuznetsov until age 26 to have a scoring pace as good as Matthews' season last year. he's also never had a year as good as Tavares at his best

 

[hockey4sale]

If only Leafs could get passed Bruins we would find out who is better in the head to head series

 

[KoozNetsOff 92]

anything is easy when you put no thought or effort into it. It took Kuznetsov until age 26 to have a scoring pace as good as Matthews' season last year. he's also never had a year as good as Tavares at his best

Who cares about age, it's asking who is better.

This isn't 2014. Tavares' best means nothing at this moment.

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

Who cares about age, it's asking who is better.

This isn't 2014. Tavares' best means nothing at this moment.

then how is Backstrom better than the Leafs players? Matthews had more 5v5 primary points than Backstrom had 5v5 total points, and he missed 20 games. He's miles better offensively and nearly as good defensively. Tavares is also clearly better than Kuznetsov, with slightly better offense and better defense

 

[Regal]

then how is Backstrom better than the Leafs players? Matthews had more 5v5 primary points than Backstrom had 5v5 total points, and he missed 20 games. He's miles better offensively and nearly as good defensively. Tavares is also clearly better than Kuznetsov, with slightly better offense and better defense

Seasons become less relevant the further back we go. Tavares hasn't been a top 10 scorer for 3 seasons now, whereas Backstrom was just the year before this. Also, Matthews rode ridiculous percentages 5v5 that he's not repeating. He's a better scorer than Backstrom 5v5, but not by as much as this season suggests. And while he's hindered by lack of PP time, that doesn't mean we can ignore the fact that Backstrom is one of the best PP QBs in the game. I think Matthews is better offensively, as he's the 2nd best in the league after McDavid at generating high danger chances, but he's not miles better.

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

Very close but I'll give Edge to TO as they are younger and have a better 3c.

What does the quality of the 3C have to do with the OP?

 

[PucksOnNet]

Kuznetsov>Tavares
Backstrom>Matthews

 

[Skolman]

Solid response. Explain what you disagree with

 

[Puckstuff]

Backstrom - 91
Matthews - 91
Tavares - 90
Kuznetsov - 89

If I was giving out ratings I would say the leafs only by about 1 point

 

[Lemontree]

Gotta go with the champs

So in that case you would have to select them over a duo of McDavid and Bergeron as well since a combination of 2 cups is better than 1.

Seems like a weird way to decide who is better when you are comparing teammates to a duo who haven’t played together.

 

[North Cole]

Except when Matthews scored the most goals out of all 4 in his rookie season.

Matthews>>>Backstrom
Tavares>>>Kuznetsov

LOL
LOL

 

[North Cole]

This type of analysis is just tiring. Matthews was PPG this year but he is 20. Matthews is known for his defensive game. Yes he had an underwhelming 7 games after being pretty good against the caps as a rookie, but it feels like two seasons of play is totally ignored in favor or using a 7 game sample size while he was matched against the best defensive forward maybe ever and Chara.

Like I am not even going to argue that you are right but much better? It's just homerism after homerism. After making a big attempt the last few years to watch more games I am seeing more and more people who have no idea what they are talking about and go off of stat lines and buzz on here.

Matthews is good at defense, but his defensive game is getting overrated. He is not better defensively than Backstrom.

It doesn't matter if he was ppg this year. Backstrom is a shade under ppg in over 800games, ie - his career. Matthews has more potential, 100%. That being said, as of right now, he is not better.

Some of these posters saying Matthews and Tavares >> Kuznetsov and Backstrom are fools. That's just blind homerism.....

 

[Paul4587]

This is asinine. Did assists stop mattering now? And let’s not act like Backstrom isn’t the best defensively of the group either.

I take the Leafs duo, but they are close. Very close.

Assists stopped mattering, defensive play is irrevant and the only years up for comparison are their rookie years.

 

[Spirit of 67]

I can see where home town voting should carry the day.

 

[SillyRabbit]

I’ll take the Cup winners over the guy who’s game gets worse in the playoffs.