Is Jack Eichel the weakest of the four?

[VoidCreature]

I'll start this by saying I'm aware Eichel is currently injured. I'll also say he had a great rookie season, and he'll be a great player for years to come.

But compared to Matthews, McDavid and Laine, is he a disappointment? Eichel was billed as a generational talent, but from what he's shown so far I'm not sure he's on that level.

Thoughts?

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[Stuckinthe2ndround*]

Absolutely not, just behind McDavid.

 

[KPower]

He's 3rd behind McDavid and Matthews respectively.

 

[HabsQC]

I havent seen enough to really tell but Id go

McDavid
Matthews
Eichel
Laine

 

[Haatley]

Gonna be second best out of the two. Are you basing this on the fact he is injured?

 

[struckbyaparkedcar]

Revisit when he's not coached by Dan Bylsma.

 

[Nsjohnson]

No, he is a beast. Expect him to challenge all of those guys except McDavid, whom he's not that far behind. This guy is a MAN.

 

[jebs]

Maybe he's #4, but if they all star players who cares.

 

[VoidCreature]

Gonna be second best out of the two. Are you basing this on the fact he is injured?

You could read my post, you know. Pretty sure it's in English.

 

[Ducks Nation*]

McDavid
Matthews
Eichel
Laine

 

[Royal Thunder]

Eichel is a one man show on an absolutely pathetic offensive team. Bylsma has the Sabres playing the worst offensive system in the league.

 

[Sabre Dance]

Watching the Sabres without him he may be the best.

 

[jaric1862]

All four are going to be amazing players (and already are).

 

[Sabresfansince1980]

This is going to be ugly...

 

[KPower]

McDavid
Matthews
Eichel
Laine

Agree.

Eichel is going to be very good but he doesn't have the hockey sense of McDavid and Matthews.

 

[struckbyaparkedcar]

Also, to crystalize the gap between his usage and that of his peers, McDavid was allowed to cheat freely in the defensive zone - not hating, McDavid backing off defenders is actually a really valuable defensive action - while Sportsnet reported that Eichel led the league in zone exits.

As supremely talented rookie and downhill offensive player, he was being asked to be the fulcrum of his team's outlet, to vastly less talented forwards. I seriously can't ****ing even.

 

[leafsfan1234]

He won't even be in the discussion in a few years.. There are many players that will be better than him.

 

[scan15*]

Offensively, he's better than Laine and probably on the same level as Matthews.

I guess it's easy to forget how good he is because he had a bad World cup and missed the start of the season.

 

[Drew4u]

Generational talent?? No he wasnt. Nobody ever called him a generational talent. However i do believe hes overrated. I think Mackinnon who got much less hype will have a better career.

 

[Morbo]

Not really fair when he's hurt. kid's a great talent. the ranking of the group of names under discussion will take care of itself naturally. Other than probably McDavid on top, I couldn't say for certain how they'll end up.

 

[RiceCooker]

He won't even be in the discussion in a few years.. There are many players that will be better than him.

don't be that guy....

 

[Grandrift145]

Maybe but the guy is injured, if he was playing right now he'd be lighting it up

Time will tell

 

[VoidCreature]

Offensively, he's better than Laine and probably on the same level as Matthews.

I guess it's easy to forget how good he is because he had a bad World cup and missed the start of the season.

He wasn't PPG in his rookie year, so far all the others are and have been.

I loved him when he was drafted, still do. But his production so far has been a little disappointing.

 

[BusQuets]

His hockey iq is not on the same level with the other 3 and he doesn't have enough tools compared to other to overcome that.

I have never bought the hype with Eichel. Just makes too many bonehead plays.

 

[93LEAFS]

I'd put him 3rd behind McDavid and Matthews. McDavid is just absolutely dominant with his skating that he takes over games, while Matthews is a very high-iq player who is extremely polished. Eichel needs to round out his game, but has all the skill there to be a high-end offensive center. My biggest issue with him (which I thought was apparent at the WHC), is that he isn't very adaptable therefore it can take him awhile to find chemistry with his linemates.

Laine has an amazing goalscoring instincts, but I would like to see more production at 5v5 before I put him above Eichel.