Jack Eichel or Austin Matthews 17/18

[sabrebuild]

Eichel has an extra gear of athleticism that Matthews doesn't. Matthews is a smarter more efficient player.

They will rotate being second best to mcdavid for the next decade.

Should be fun to watch us continue to beat the leafs, no matter the year or team.

The maple leafs have gotten us through a lot of tough times. And we appreciate it!!

 

[LordNeverLose]

I said before last season that I expected Matthews to have a better season than Eichel, but Eichel to end up the better player and I stand by that.

I think Matthews goes for 30-35 goals and 30-35 assists for about 70 points.
I think Eichel goes for 35ish goals and 40ish assists for 75-80 points

 

[LordNeverLose]

One thing to note when comparing the two last season is that Matthews had a 63% Ozone start rate, compared to Eichel's 52%

 

[The Winter Soldier]

I am pretty confident in predicting Eichel will have the better season than Matthews.

 

[Mats13]

Eichel has an extra gear of athleticism that Matthews doesn't. Matthews is a smarter more efficient player.

They will rotate being second best to mcdavid for the next decade.

Should be fun to watch us continue to beat the leafs, no matter the year or team.

The maple leafs have gotten us through a lot of tough times. And we appreciate it!!

How's the weather in 2008?

Here in 2017, the Leafs are the better team.

 

[LeafFever]

How's the weather in 2008?

Here in 2017, the Leafs are the better team.

Yeah, the entire "Leafs can't beat Buffalo" ended years ago.

 

[MMC]

Probably Eichel. Expecting him to take a step forward and Matthews to take a step back this season.

 

[10Ducky10]

Eichel is the better player.
Matthews will get about 67 points and Eichel about 75....IF Eichel stays healthy.

 

[10Ducky10]

Not sure anyone will score 90 points other than McDavid.

Mark Scheifele says hi...

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

Eichel is the better player.
Matthews will get about 67 points and Eichel about 75....IF Eichel stays healthy.

based on what?

 

[10Ducky10]

based on my opinion and what I have seen of them

 

[Palio]

I just don't understand how the answer is anything but Matthews. He has been better at every comparable level and age. His rookie season was better than either of Eichel's first two seasons. And don't bother coming at me with PPG as Matthews had a better PP60.

Matthews until proven otherwise

 

[Nithoniniel]

I just don't understand how the answer is anything but Matthews. He has been better at every comparable level and age. His rookie season was better than either of Eichel's first two seasons. And don't bother coming at me with PPG as Matthews had a better PP60.

Matthews until proven otherwise

The thing is that we are discussing who will be best next season, and they won't be at the same age then. Matthews will be going into his sophomore season, while Eichel shows every indication of hitting his prime in his third season.

It's very possible that Matthews will outdo what Eichel did last season, but that Eichel is still the better player in the 17/18 season.

 

[HoBOonFiRE]

Mark Scheifele says hi...

Really? Out of all the players in the league he's the next candidate to reach 90+ points? Lmao

I think Eichel will put up more points than Matthews this season but the point difference won't be enough to overshadow Matthews' all round game.

 

[KapG]

Really? Out of all the players in the league he's the next candidate to reach 90+ points? Lmao

I think Eichel will put up more points than Matthews this season but the point difference won't be enough to overshadow Matthews' all round game.

*shrug*

To be fair, scheifele is like the third highest scoring player in the NHL the last season and half since he got too line duties.

 

[HoBOonFiRE]

*shrug*

To be fair, scheifele is like the third highest scoring player in the NHL the last season and half since he got too line duties.

Sure I get why people might say that but his oISH% was near the tops in the league while he also shot at 20% himself. I could name atleast 10 guys more likely to hit 90 points

 

[Sypher04]

Not sure anyone will score 90 points other than McDavid.

If healthy, Crosby will be right with McDavid. Quite likely even outproduce him. Nevermind, guys like Stamkos, Malkin (again, if healthy), or Kucherov.

I'm not sure why people seem to have this thought process that McDavid is untouchable offensively. That couldn't be further from the truth.

I mean, if McDavid was so untouchable offensively, you'd think he'd have had better points per 60 than those players. He didn't.

Albeit, Stamkos' 17 games is on the small side sample wise. All the others are 62+ games

 

[Laineux]

If healthy, Crosby will be right with McDavid. Quite likely even outproduce him. Nevermind, guys like Stamkos, Malkin (again, if healthy), or Kucherov.

I'm not sure why people seem to have this thought process that McDavid is untouchable offensively. That couldn't be further from the truth.

I mean, if McDavid was so untouchable offensively, you'd think he'd have had better points per 60 than those players. He didn't.

Albeit, Stamkos' 17 games is on the small side sample wise. All the others are 62+ games

McDavid plays penalty kill you know.

 

[Sypher04]

McDavid plays penalty kill you know.

48 seconds per game. Not that significant.

It doesn't undo any of the point I made. In fact, Kucherov played slightly over twice the average short handed time per game that McDavid did and was among the group with a higher points per 60.

 

[VoluntaryDom]

Lol @ Scheifele being more likely than Kucherov to hit 90 points, Kuch just hit 85 points in 74 games, a 94 point pace. He also just happened to lead the league in points before his linemate Stamkos got injured. Assuming Stamkos stays healthy Kucherov could be an Art Ross candidate.

 

[zeke]

it's funny that in all these leafs comps, the guy getting compared to the leaf (e.g. eichel, drai, ehlers, etc etc) always improved dramatically from their rookie year to their sophomore year......but for some reason nobody thinks any of the toronto rookies will improve in their 2nd years.

strange stuff.

 

[LeafFever]

If healthy, Crosby will be right with McDavid. Quite likely even outproduce him. Nevermind, guys like Stamkos, Malkin (again, if healthy), or Kucherov.

I'm not sure why people seem to have this thought process that McDavid is untouchable offensively. That couldn't be further from the truth.

I mean, if McDavid was so untouchable offensively, you'd think he'd have had better points per 60 than those players. He didn't.

Albeit, Stamkos' 17 games is on the small side sample wise. All the others are 62+ games

Well it was true this past year that's why.

 

[Sypher04]

Well it was true this past year that's why.

No it wasn't. Injuries were the major difference.

 

[ImpartialNHLfan]

Really? Out of all the players in the league he's the next candidate to reach 90+ points? Lmao

I think Eichel will put up more points than Matthews this season but the point difference won't be enough to overshadow Matthews' all round game.

Only because Laine will score 70 goals... amirite fins?

 

[Aerchon]

Eichel and Mathews are very similar players imo. Next year I see Eichel taking another step and if healthy topping 80 points.

Mathews was put in a great position to succeed by Babcock. Favorable match ups, zone time etc... I also think Mathews had a decent amount of puck luck. Next year Babcock/Toronto/Mathews surprises no one and takes a small step back. A few less goals and a couple more assists.