They're not comparable at all, it's like comparing Bergeron with DeBrincat
This is why this poll is kinda hard to answer. I think it comes down to what type of player you think will make your team better and harder to play against.
I have watched a lot of Caufield and Pinto both in the WJC and NHL, and I'm taking Pinto. It's possible that Caufield scores 30+ a few times but I am going Pinto. Tkachuk, Batherson, Stutzle, Norris, Brown, Formenton... we'll be ok scoring goals. Norris/Tkachuk/Batherson were all on pace to score 25 this season, Brown was on pace to score 31. Stutzle will also start to fill the net in the near future.
Wait... what? So now Caufield is going to be a 50 goals scorer? You realize 6'3 Auston Matthews hasn't scored 50 yet? Give the kid a chance for christ's sake, my 11 y/o daughter has 2 inches on him.
Everything is possible but in the last 10 years :
- Ovechkin scored 50 goals or more 4 times (53, 51, 51, 50)
- Stamkos, Malkin and Draisaitl scored 50 goals or more once (60, 50, 50)
If this isn't a BOLD take, then what is it?
Well, Pinto has played as an excellent 2nd line center right out of the gate (same gate as Caufield and they're basically the same age), excellent defensively and on the PK, while producing 7 ES pts (barely no PP/no OT TOI) pts in 12 games (0.58 PPG) playing with very green/young players (Stutzle/Formenton) and guys known as bottom-6 players (Connor Brown/Nick Paul). He did all that in 12:31 of TOI/GP
So if you mean, he has shown better that his top ceiling as a pure 20 y/o rookie with no pro experience, then ok I guess...
Talk about HF being ridiculous, you are the PERFECT EXAMPLE.