Zybalto
Registered User
- Dec 28, 2012
- 9,608
- 8,962
You bring up games played, when you know that players often play injured. Barkov was dealing with a lower body injury all season last year, before and after the halt, and it was evident in his play. But that doesn’t show up in your games played comparison.
This season, with both relatively healthy, it’s no contest, but since you Leafs fans can’t stand to see other players ranked ahead of yours, you have to find ways to tilt it back towards the Leafs player. Like it’s the end of the world if Matthews was the 5th best center in the game, rather than 4th.
What you are doing here is ignoring Matthews' injuries while simultaneously using Barkov's as a crutch to support his lesser stats.
You do know that Matthews played injured through two stretches of the season this year right?
First with a banged up back that obviously hindered his play when you watched him and then with a wrist injury he's been dealing with all year that got aggravated even more in a game against the Flames that hampered his shot so much he became a pass first 5v5 guy that was used to stand in front of the net and try to tip pucks on the PP for a 3 week stretch. He's just getting over than the last few games.
Matthews has also separated both of his shoulders with one of them coming in the data set provided.
I'm well aware of the issues both players have faced over the last couple of years. It's admirable how both can keep up such a high level of play both playing with injuries and in the wake of some really bad ones that cause them to miss time.
The only debate of Matthews placement among centers in the league is whether or not he's 2nd or 3rd. Do you put a premium on the insane goal scoring ability of Matthews or the Possession monster that is MacKinnon.
Barkov is an elite franchise center in this league. I just cant see a way to get him into the top 5.