Matthews vs Dahlin
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Plural
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- Mar 10, 2011
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As difficult as it is to compare defensemen to centers I think Dahlin has higher upside than Matthews does. However, I'm reluctant to pick a prospect over a proven NHL player who projects to be among top-5 in his position soon enough.
I would pick Matthews right now. I probably would pick Dahlin if they were in the same draft.
I would pick Matthews right now. I probably would pick Dahlin if they were in the same draft.
That's the point, I want to gauge just how much people are willing to gamble on one of the most hyped D prospects in a long time over a big #1C that could be a dominant player at both ends of the ice for years to come, but at different stages in their development (hence the gambling factor).
Essentially, the title could have be reworded to read "If Matthews was forced to re-enter the NHL draft this year as a 20 year-old, would he go #1 over Dahlin?" but the issue there is that people might have voted depending on their team's need since both are going to be cornerstone pieces on their own.
FlyTimmo
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- Jul 10, 2013
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Matthews, pretty easily. At worst you have a dynamic 40 goal #1 center. He'll learn from his mistakes in the playoffs and be a top ~10 player for the league for the next 5-7 years.
The only prospect I would take over Matthews would be a clear-cut generational prospect like McDavid or Crosby, Dahlin isn't one.
The only prospect I would take over Matthews would be a clear-cut generational prospect like McDavid or Crosby, Dahlin isn't one.
SHANNYPLAN
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Kcb12345
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How in the world is Dahlin winning this poll...my god people overrate prospects on here. The poll with him beating out Victor Hedman was bad enough, but now this? Theres no prospect in the world right now I'd take over a proven 40 goal scoring 20 year old #1 center. Like sure Dahlin could be an amazing #1 dman...but this isn't worth the risk at all. Matthews, AINEC at all.
Dahlin is quickly becoming one of the most overrated prospects in recent memory. Great prospect, but you don't take him over a franchise center like Matthews, like you don't take Dahlin over Eichel. Defenders come with a bunch of risk.
I wouldn't take Dahlin over Eichel or Matthews if they were in the same draft.
I wouldn't take Dahlin over Eichel or Matthews if they were in the same draft.
Randy Randerson
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this should be Matthews in a landslide, but I'm sure it will go the other way. Both of these guys fall into the slot below generational upside, one has franchise player downside and the other is a mystery box. Anyone is entitled to their opinion on which has the edge in who would be better if they both hit their absolute ceilings, both would go behind McDavid in the same draft and both were slotted as the #1oa pick in their own drafts for years before the day, the only huge separation between them is risk factor
FlyTimmo
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Combination of Leaf hate, and HFboards overvaluing a shiny new toy.
MMC
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No way. Day, Sokolov, and Krys were talked about potentially being first overall picks in 2016, same with Veleno, Svechnikov, and Wise in 2018.
Matthews was viewed as the 1st Overall pick for 2016 since the 2014 U-18's (so almost 2 years before his draft date). Dahlin has been viewed as the favorite for this one since the 2017 WJC.
Randy Randerson
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I don't remember Day, Sokolov and Krys being talked about as potential #1oa's, potential top 10's for sure, and obviously that was a long time before draft day. Puljujarvi was the challenger heading into the 2016 draft year, Laine emerged later, Matthews was the favourite all along
Veleno hasn't been talked about like that since the year after he got exceptional status when it was realized that he shouldn't have gotten it, Wise hasn't been in the convo for a long time, Svechnikov had a chance coming into this year but Dahlin has been the front runner since the beginning of last year
Plural
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I would seriously consider that. It's riskier to draft D but he has such a high potential. I bet some teams would take him over either of the two C's.
Pyrophorus
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Randy Randerson
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the biggest differences are the typical time it takes for prospects at each position to start contributing at a really high level and how hard stars at each position are to find outside of high picks. Forwards usually contribute sooner, but don't last as long at peak performance. Star level defensemen are regularly found in later rounds, star level centers are rarely found outside the top 15 picks
I'd go with the center (Matthews or Eichel), then throw lots of picks at defensemen. There's no guarantees, but that's the more probably route of getting both
Some, but I don't think it would be an overwhelming amount. its likely to be split in thirds. The risk for defenders, combined with the fact it is almost impossible to find franchise centers outside of the top 10 of the draft, and realistically the top 3, whereas elite defenders are found throughout the top 2 rounds. Center's drive play at 5v5 more than any other position.
I also don't see Dahlin having significantly more upside to offset the positional risk. Karlsson and Doughty are rarely significantly more valuable than the top 5 or so centers in the league, which is a pretty realistic projection for Matthews and Eichel.
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Conspiracy Theorist
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Plural
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Yeah, this makes a lot of sense. Nowdays it's like a lottery win to get a franchise C after the first round. I guess most teams would go with Eichel/Matthews over Dahlin because a) they are less likely to not reach their potential, b) are going to have big impact on the team faster and c) you're more likely to get a franchise level D from the lower picks than a franchise level C.
Randy Randerson
Registered User
that's the way I see it. And the defenseman/men that you get in the later rounds are definitely not likely to be as good as Dahlin, same for any centers coming from later picks being as good as Matthews/Eichel but I think you're more likely to build a team that's good enough by starting with the center
oddly enough, it seems like there's still a bit of a perception that you need to be big to be that real 1C so there's some guys slipping through the cracks like Point and Aho, but probably just a matter of time before that inefficiency corrects itself
Yeah, I chose a neutral source I had no control over a couple weeks ago (NHL.com top 20 players at center and d entering the season). I know that isn't perfect, but it's a decent baseline. Here's how it broke down in regards to draft position. I edited out my commentary on it, as its quite long, but if you want to see it, click the arrow next to my name on the quoted post. I edited out most of my commentary.
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Aside from the no-brainer homer pick - I'm going for the elite defenseman simply because kids like Dahlin don't come around often.
"Build from the net out.." It's too bad we've still have a giant question mark in net.
"Build from the net out.." It's too bad we've still have a giant question mark in net.
From what I have seen here at home then I easily take the chance at Rasums Dahlin ,best young player I've seen last 25 years from sweden.
Paul4587
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- Jan 26, 2006
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I take the risk and pick Dahlin and his massive upside. Matthews is a much safer pick though and projects to be a top 10 player himself but if Dahlin pans out you’re looking at a generational Dman.
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