Speculation: Comparing 1st OA picks of the past decade. Where does Mathews rank?

[Josh92]

Last 10 years the players picked 1st OA have been 06 - Eric Johnson, 2007 - Patrick Kane, 2008 - Steven Stamkos, 2009 - John Tavares, 2010 - Taylor Hall, 2011 - Ryan Nugent Hopkins, 2012 - Nail Yakupov, 2013 - Nathan MacKinnon, 2014 - Aaron Ekblad, 2015 - Connor McDavid. So for me, looking at this list, I'd rank them as 11. Yakupov, 10. Johnson, 9.RNH, 8. Taylor Hall 7. Nate MacKinnon, 6 ekblad, 5. Mathews, 4. Stamkos, 3. Tavares, 2. Kane, 1. McDavid. Now obviously Everyone of these guys are just entering their prime or haven't yet, So it's subject to alot of change, but by my calculations we have the 6th best 1st overall prospect in the last 11 drafts. Not a bad year to tank. What does your list look like?

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[Liminality]

Last 10 years the players picked 1st OA have been 06 - Eric Johnson, 2007 - Patrick Kane, 2008 - Steven Stamkos, 2009 - John Tavares, 2010 - Taylor Hall, 2011 - Ryan Nugent Hopkins, 2012 - Nail Yakupov, 2013 - Nathan MacKinnon, 2014 - Aaron Ekblad, 2015 - Connor McDavid. So for me, looking at this list, I'd rank them as 11. Yakupov, 10. Johnson, 9.RNH, 8. Taylor Hall 7. Nate MacKinnon, 6 ekblad, 5. Mathews, 4. Stamkos, 3. Tavares, 2. Kane, 1. McDavid. Now obviously Everyone of these guys are just entering their prime or haven't yet, So it's subject to alot of change, but by my calculations we have the 6th best 1st overall prospect in the last 11 drafts. Not a bad year to tank. What does your list look like?

Think he's definitely around the Tavares range if he pans out. Maybe sandwiched inbetween Stamkos and Tavares in terms of potential.

 

[FrozenJagrt]

I'd say he could slot in anywhere from 2-6.

 

[Morgs]

If they were all drafted in the same year with what you knew at the draft:

1. Connor McDavid
2. John Tavares
3. Auston Matthews
4. Steven Stamkos
5. Aaron Ekblad
6. Patrick Kane
7. Taylor Hall
8. Erik Johnson
9. Nathan MacKinnon
10. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
11. Nail Yakupov

If you rate it based on their play up until today & who I'd want in the future:

1. Connor McDavid
2. Patrick Kane
3. John Tavares
4. Auston Matthews
5. Aaron Ekblad
6. Steven Stamkos
7. Taylor Hall
8. Nathan MacKinnon
9. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
10. Erik Johnson
11. Nail Yakupov

 

[Gallagbi]

If they were all drafted in the same year with what you knew at the draft:

1. Connor McDavid
2. John Tavares
3. Auston Matthews
4. Steven Stamkos
5. Aaron Ekblad
6. Patrick Kane
7. Taylor Hall
8. Erik Johnson
9. Nathan MacKinnon
10. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
11. Nail Yakupov

If you rate it based on their play today & in the future:

1. Connor McDavid
2. Patrick Kane
3. John Tavares
4. Auston Matthews
5. Aaron Ekblad
6. Steven Stamkos
7. Taylor Hall
8. Nathan MacKinnon
9. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
10. Erik Johnson
11. Nail Yakupov

I might even drop Kane lower in that first list. He had a lot of doubts about his size and strength at the draft.

 

[Damisoph]

Maybe better than JT and Stamkos? Maybe worse than MacKinnon and Hall. Who knows.

 

[Gary Nylund]

If they were all drafted in the same year with what you knew at the draft:

1. Connor McDavid
2. John Tavares
3. Auston Matthews
4. Steven Stamkos
5. Aaron Ekblad
6. Patrick Kane
7. Taylor Hall
8. Erik Johnson
9. Nathan MacKinnon
10. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
11. Nail Yakupov

If you rate it based on their play up until today & who I'd want in the future:

1. Connor McDavid
2. Patrick Kane
3. John Tavares
4. Auston Matthews
5. Aaron Ekblad
6. Steven Stamkos
7. Taylor Hall
8. Nathan MacKinnon
9. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
10. Erik Johnson
11. Nail Yakupov

I don't know that much about pre-draft rankings so I won't comment on the first list but that second list looks pretty good. Maybe it's the Leafs homer in me but I might put Matthews ahead of Tavares and I also probably put Ekblad ahead of them both. Not really sure though, it's tough.

 

[Daisy Jane]

I don't know that much about pre-draft rankings so I won't comment on the first list but that second list looks pretty good. Maybe it's the Leafs homer in me but I might put Matthews ahead of Tavares and I also probably put Ekblad ahead of them both. Not really sure though, it's tough.

I put Ekblad before Tavares/Matthews, Tavares before Matthews (after his first game then he can go before Tavares )

 

[BayStreetBully]

I'd take Matthews ahead of anyone aside from McDavid. Kane, Stamkos, Tavares and Ekblad are hella great players and they can play on my team anyday. I'm not taking any of them over Matthews.

 

[Josh92]

I'd take Matthews ahead of anyone aside from McDavid. Kane, Stamkos, Tavares and Ekblad are hella great players and they can play on my team anyday. I'm not taking any of them over Matthews.

You D take Mathews over mcdavid?

 

[JonnyMacAwesome]

You D take Mathews over mcdavid?

Re-read his first sentence. He'd take Matthews over anyone OTHER than McDavid.

 

[Josh92]

I put Ekblad before Tavares/Matthews, Tavares before Matthews (after his first game then he can go before Tavares )

I really beleive Mathews will have a tavares like career. Strong point totals, good 2way game, terrific leader and (most likely) captain one day.

 

[Maplebeasts]

You D take Mathews over mcdavid?

Read the first sentence again.

 

[Josh92]

Re-read his first sentence. He'd take Matthews over anyone OTHER than McDavid.

Oops, my apologies wasn't wearing my glasses i thought he meant he wouldn't thanks for the correction

 

[Maplebeasts]

I really beleive Mathews will have a tavares like career. Strong point totals, good 2way game, terrific leader and (most likely) captain one day.

Tavares certainly is not a good two way player. I'd say Matthews should math Tavares offensively, while playing better defense. Then again I don't think Tavares really has matched the hype he had going into his draft. Elite player but certainly not "Franchise Centre" if you ask me.

 

[Semantics]

1. McDavid
2. Matthews
3-10. who cares

Matthews is about as close to a generational talent as it gets without being one. This is not homer bias either, I would have said the same thing before the lottery. He broke all the records in the NTDP and has always been put on par with Eichel. This was the Auston Matthews draft three years ago.

Keep in mind that Marner would have gone #1 in several of the recent drafts, which is something we discussed many times around last year's draft. And Matthews is a significantly better prospect than Marner.

 

[Josh92]

Tavares certainly is not a good two way player. I'd say Matthews should math Tavares offensively, while playing better defense. Then again I don't think Tavares really has matched the hype he had going into his draft. Elite player but certainly not "Franchise Centre" if you ask me.

Not a tavares fan I take it lol. I wasn't either but I think his coming out party was the panthers series. He took over and showed alot of heart, determination and leadership in that series I think.

 

[Menzinger]

His potential is sky high.

Likely won't ever be quite as good as McDavid but he's got he chance to be the 2nd best 1st overall of the past decade.

 

[Josh92]

1. McDavid
2. Matthews
3-10. who cares

Matthews is about as close to a generational talent as it gets without being one. This is not homer bias either, I would have said the same thing before the lottery. He broke all the records in the NTDP and has always been put on par with Eichel. This was the Auston Matthews draft three years ago.

Keep in mind that Marner would have gone #1 in several of the recent drafts, which is something we discussed many times around last year's draft. And Matthews is a significantly better prospect than Marner.

What is the requirement for being a generational talent and what doesn't he have that doesn't make him that? Not being rude, just wondering. Because I know he's a terrific talent but I have never heard anyone say generational (still trying to understand what makes a person a generational talent). Is it just undeniable, guaranteed superstar talent like Gretzky lemieux Crosby mcdavid that makes someone generational?

 

[Josh92]

His potential is sky high.

Likely won't ever be quite as good as McDavid but he's got he chance to be the 2nd best 1st overall of the past decade.

That's what I'm hoping for aswell.

 

[Funk21]

If Matthews ends up being comparable to JT I'd be satisfied!

 

[JonnyMacAwesome]

Oops, my apologies wasn't wearing my glasses i thought he meant he wouldn't thanks for the correction

No worries, I had to read it a 2nd time to catch the period after McDavid.

 

[Josh92]

No worries, I had to read it a 2nd time to catch the period after McDavid.

Lmao ya that period is tiny on this crappy phone I have lol

 

[crump]

until I see him play in the NHL this is as high as I am willing to guess....


1. Connor McDavid
2. Patrick Kane
3. John Tavares
4. Aaron Ekblad
5. Steven Stamkos
6. Austin Matthews
7. Taylor Hall
8. Nathan MacKinnon
9. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
10. Erik Johnson
11. Nail Yakupov

 

[Gabriel426]

As long as Matthews bring the Leafs to a Cup. I could careless if the other 10 1st overalls have a better career than him.