Craig Button: Matthews is not even close to Draisaitl right now

[Pyrophorus]

Who has scored more goals than Matthews since he's entered the league?

I'll list all of them:

Ovechkin

 

[WestCoastLife]

lol at the people calling Button an idiot / clown ... please let us know when you lock down a job as a NHL executive in your lifetime.

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

Member of media says something slightly negative about Matthews: "He's a clown and clearly just says dumb things"

Member of the media ranks Matthews highly: "Even the media understands how good Matthews is. I'd take the opinion of these people who are paid to follow hockey over people on a message board"

it's not "slightly negative", it's simply a bad opinion to say Matthews isn't even close to Draisaitl or other top players. This would also make more sense if I've said I liked Button before or said hockey media people always knew what they were talking about, but I haven't. It would even be perfectly reasonable for me to like one media person but not Button. It seems like desperately trying to hold me accountable for things I've never said and makes you look pretty silly

 

[dookers9]

I chuckle at how those that actually debate this right now have barely watched Drai play this year. Be real. I’m not talking highlights.

You see Matthews because of the market and the time zone. I’ll leave the opinions that matter to those that actually watch the games.

 

[Eternal Leaf]

lol at the people calling Button an idiot / clown ... please let us know when you lock down a job as a NHL executive in your lifetime.

Craig Button on Nylander: "He's so much better than Taylor Hall, it's frightening."

 

[Rhaegar Targaryen]

it's not "slightly negative", it's simply a bad opinion to say Matthews isn't even close to Draisaitl or other top players. This would also make more sense if I've said I liked Button before or said hockey media people always knew what they were talking about, but I haven't. It would even be perfectly reasonable for me to like one media person but not Button. It seems like desperately trying to hold me accountable for things I've never said and makes you look pretty silly

Matthews hasn’t come close to 50 goals or 100 points. It’s a completely reasonable take.

 

[dookers9]

Okay but Draisaitl can score as well, is 10x the passer he is plus more dominant defensively.

Totally. Count on Drai to make a defensive play over Matthews any day. 50 goals last year, passes among the league’s elite, and plays the body.

Damn straight he’s a better choice for “overall player”. Right now, as Button et. al suggest.

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

it's not "slightly negative", it's simply a bad opinion to say Matthews isn't even close to Draisaitl or other top players.

Bad opinion according to you. Draisaitl is performing at an incredibly high level this season, near the top of the points race. That's following last year, where he was the only player in the entire league to score both 50 goals and 100 points.

The only thing Matthews is comparable to Draisaitl right now is in terms of goal scoring. As an all-around offensive player, there's a legitimate argument that Draisaitl is looking like a better player at this point in time. Just because you disagree with it doesn't make it "bad".

This would also make more sense if I've said I liked Button before or said hockey media people always knew what they were talking about, but I haven't. It seems like desperately trying to hold me accountable for things I've never said and makes you look pretty silly

It was a commentary on Matthews' defenders in general, not you specifically. Seems like when the media ranks him highly (look at the discussion threads about where TSN and Sporting News ranked him), suddenly they're this authority on all things hockey. But when one of their number says something less flattering, suddenly they're blowhards.

 

[Rabid Ranger]

99% of the time Button is lambasted on this site but then Matthews comes up....lol.

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

Bad opinion according to you. Draisaitl is performing at an incredibly high level this season, near the top of the points race. That's following last year, where he was the only player in the entire league to score both 50 goals and 100 points.



It was a commentary on Matthews' defenders in general, not you specifically. Seems like when the media ranks him highly (look at the discussion threads about where TSN and Sporting News ranked him), suddenly they're this authority on all things hockey. But when one of their number says something less flattering, suddenly they're blowhards.

Why respond to what I said with what other people have said and heavily imply I was responsible for both opinions? Different people can believe different things, even if they cheer for the same hockey team. That shouldn't need to be explained

 

[Howboutthempanthers]

I think we know how these things go, right now Draisaitl is better than Matthews IMO. But that could change in the future.
That doesn't mean that Matthews will automatically become better, I mean Draisaitl has done 50/50 and is pace to do even more. It would be hard for Matthews to top that.

 

[krutovsdonut]

maybe they should try matthews on the wing.

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

last year Button was saying McDavid and Matthews was a Gretzky and Lemieux situation in case people are actually taking him seriously

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

last year Button was saying McDavid and Matthews was a Gretzky and Lemieux situation in case people are actually taking him seriously

Did you agree with his take then?

 

[lawrence]

maybe they should try matthews on the wing.

might be a natural fit, since his goals to assist ratio is kinda off for a centreman. Not that it's a bad thing.

 

[Oilers Propagandist]

I don't know if Draisaitl is dominant defensively to any extent, that seems a stretch. He can be but he also looked gassed last game and was letting guys by him.

But Matthews is a cakewalk. Or at least he was for Dubois tonight. I did find this rundown of Matthews' errors, but it doesn't even include the most egregious play of the night. Matthews stops in the neutral zone, lets 4 Jackets blow by him, and turns to go off and change on the backcheck, causing a prolonged 4 on 2. That will get you in trouble on a men's league team.

I can’t comment on the game (glad the Jackets won though) but im always taken back when’s watching Matthews play and where many rank him after watching him play. Great goal scored but not much else, they should try him at wing.

As far as Drai, he plays pk because he is good at getting into lanes and intercepting passes. He is very good defensively. Last game was probably the worst game I’ve ever seen from Draisaitl and McDavid.

Craig Button on Nylander: "He's so much better than Taylor Hall, it's frightening."

He is off his rocker 99% of the time but it doesn’t discredit fact of life. It’s the circ

Totally. Count on Drai to make a defensive play over Matthews any day. 50 goals last year, passes among the league’s elite, and plays the body.

Damn straight he’s a better choice for “overall player”. Right now, as Button et. al suggest.

We watch him every game and because some people watch the Oilers only for McDavid, by proxy they see and realize how good Drai is. People will start to see what we see every game, it’s clear because we don’t have to defend him as much no more. He is simply too good that you are simply a fool if you attempt discredit him now.

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

Did you agree with his take then?

is this your way of saying you were a bit misguided? I'll take it

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

is this your way of saying you were a bit misguided? I'll take it

It's my way of clarifying whether or not you agreed with his take last season since you don't want me putting words in your mouth.

 

[Thread The Needle]

It's amazing how Button can say Matthews is close to McDavid and then say that he isn't close to Draisaitl... and be wrong both times.

 

[mouser]

Who has scored more goals than Matthews since he's entered the league?

I'll list all of them:

Ovechkin

Failed to do your research I see.

 

[McFlyingV]

Craig Button on Nylander: "He's so much better than Taylor Hall, it's frightening."

Notice none of the 3 other guys discussing this comment disagreed with Button and that includes a few guys who are historically pretty big Leafs homers.

 

[YakDavid]

So Matthews is a goal scorer. Draisaitl outscored him last year and came second. To add that Drai had more assists and broke 100 points while Matthews had 73. Until Matthews gets closer it really is a fair take. While Drai also penalty kills. Drai is a much more complete player.

 

[KaseMeOutside]

This is the problem with Mathews playing in Toronto, he is scrutinized positively, and negatively more than any player his age group in the league. This is why he's going to leave in 5 years, so he can just play hockey without all the bullshit involved

 

[CookiesAndMilk]

He is correct that Matthews is not close to Draisaitl. That is because Matthews is so much better.

Cute.

 

[poolparty98]

Button stating the obvious. Can’t compare a top 5 player 50 goal 100 pt guy to a 70 pt guy.

Leon is a special player , Matthews is a great talent as well, nota bad thing to be a top 40 player in the world,


Comparing the two, it’s not close.