What I am getting from this thread and discussion is Even strength goals is being used as the sole factor of being an elite player.
Truth is there are many factors. Playmaking, defensive play, making players better, impact on a team, PP, PK. All things that need to be in the conversation.
Matthews is an elite goal scorer. I don't think anyone has ever argued he is not. Time will tell on the rest. I would say he is trending in that direction. The one thing I would still like to see is him closing the ratio of goals to assists.
Right now.
Elite goal scorer
Average playmaker
If he improves on his playmaking, then there will be few questions whether he is elite or not.
It has to be said, you're getting worse and worse at this.
Matthews assists per game destroys Laine's this year, but I, and everyone that knows hockey knows Laine is high-end play maker as well, despite his low assist rates this year.
The truth is, both players are high end play makers, and it's obvious when you watch them, but you're so afraid of Matthews for some reason that you always come off looking sour and insecure discussing him.
It's okay man, he's an elite franchise center, it's good for the NHL!
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As for this thread, the thing that makes this the most impressive to me is that Babcock still has Matthews on a leash. He doesn't play him 19+ minutes a game, he doesn't play him with the best players on the team on one stacked line, and he doesn't play him on the #1 PP unit.
All signs point to Matthews moving up to the Marner PP next year and that has the potential to be crazy deadly.
I mean Kadri and JVR have a combined 21 PP goals, largely thanks to Marner. Slot Matthews in on that PP and it might be lights out.