Post-Lockout Tournament: Level A, round 1: Kopitar Versus Backstrom

[DitchMarner]

Level A, round 1:



Toews
Bergeron

Kopitar
Backstrom

Getzlaf
Stamkos

Giroux
Kovalchuk



Level B, round 1:



Tavares
Staal

Benn
Zetterberg

Hall
Heatley

Spezza
Lecavalier



Level C, round 1:



Seguin
Kessel

Gaborik
Perry

Parise
Nash

Gomez
Brad Richards

Briere
Kesler

Carter
Krejci

Couture
Marc Savard

Mike Richards
Pavelski



Vote for the player who has been better (consider entire careers).​

Click to read more...

 

[DitchMarner]

 

[izzy]

ah tough one

id probably go with kopitar but just barely

 

[illpucks]

What has Kopitar done in the playoffs? Anything special? Backstrom was key with OT goal vs Columbus.

 

[Regal]

What has Kopitar done in the playoffs? Anything special? Backstrom was key with OT goal vs Columbus.

I dunno, led the playoffs in scoring twice while winning the cup both times, maybe?

 

[illpucks]

I dunno, led the playoffs in scoring twice while winning the cup both times, maybe?

Wasn't that Williams that led in scoring that year? Kopitar has never impressed me. He hasn't won a single cup as a Captain and is billed as such a great leader.

 

[Jericho111091]

Wasn't that Williams that led in scoring that year? Kopitar has never impressed me. He hasn't won a single cup as a Captain and is billed as such a great leader.

William's led in scoring for the finals. Kopi led in scoring for the whole playoffs in both cup runs. How is it his failing as a leader that he became captain when our window closed?

 

[illpucks]

William's led in scoring for the finals. Kopi led in scoring for the whole playoffs in both cup runs. How is it his failing as a leader that he became captain when our window closed?

It's a dumb move to make Kopitar captain. I don't like Brown because he has thrown many cheap shots, but no one can deny that Brown is a great leader.

 

[KoozNetsOff 92]

Backstrom has 5 top 10 pt finishes, Kopitar only has 1. Backstrom has 5 PPG seasons, Kopitar only has 1. Kopitar is better defensively, but not enough to make up the huge gap in their offense.

 

[Ghetty Green]

Kop eazy Caps didn't win a cup.until Kuznetsov took over the 1c spot

 

[Plural]

What has Kopitar done in the playoffs? Anything special? Backstrom was key with OT goal vs Columbus.

Is this some weird attempt to throw shade at Backs?

 

[Regal]

Backstrom has 5 top 10 pt finishes, Kopitar only has 1. Backstrom has 5 PPG seasons, Kopitar only has 1. Kopitar is better defensively, but not enough to make up the huge gap in their offense.

The Kings were also a much more defensive team for most of Kopitar's career and he didn't get to pile up secondary assists on a lethal PP.

 

[amnesiac]

What has Kopitar done in the playoffs? Anything special? Backstrom was key with OT goal vs Columbus.

this a joke?

 

[amnesiac]

Backstrom has 5 top 10 pt finishes, Kopitar only has 1. Backstrom has 5 PPG seasons, Kopitar only has 1. Kopitar is better defensively, but not enough to make up the huge gap in their offense.

now imagine if Kopitar had OV on his wing his whole career..... that said I do think its pretty close regardless, but 2 Cups as your #1C makes it pretty clear.

anyway, you Caps fans are always biased on here. You wouldve chose Kuzy over Kopitar too.

 

[Regal]

Looking at some numbers since the 07-08 season (which cuts off Kopitar's rookie year, but is where Corsica goes back to and includes all their seasons in the league at the same time), and it's actually really close:

	Kopitar	Backstrom
5v5 PPG	0.47	0.48
5v5 P1PG	0.36	0.34
5v5 P/60	1.92	2.05
5v5 P1/60	1.47	1.43
5v5 CF%	54.6%	53.3%
5v5 relCF%	3.01	3.24
5v5 GF%	54.6%	56.6%
5v5 relGF%	6.25	3.91
PP PPG	0.30	0.39
PP P1PG	0.18	0.23
PP P/60	5.61	6.79
PP P1/60	3.44	3.95
PPG	0.88	0.98
P1PG	0.63	0.64
P/82 games	72	80

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

The difference between them is 8 points per 82 games, but all of that is secondary assists by Backstrom and about half of those are on the PP. Considering the scoring ability of their teams, in particular the Caps PP, I think their offense is roughly a wash. Kopitar doesn't have the advantage in underlying 5v5 stats I expected him to though, and I suspect this is where Backstrom's better consistency is an advantage. Overall, their regular seasons seem to be basically a push. To that end I would take Kopitar due to his playoffs, but it's very close

 

[illpucks]

Is this some weird attempt to throw shade at Backs?

Why do you see it like that? Backs and Eller won the cup for the Caps by getting them out of a sweep.

 

[illpucks]

this a joke?

No, he's just such an unnoticeable player. Points or not in the playoffs. He's not elite in anything. He doesn't do any element of the game exceptionally, he doesn't have any super clutch moments.

 

[Midnight Judges]

Caps fan saying Kopitar. Backstrom is a great all around player but his stats have been inflated substantially by playing with Ovechkin.

 

[KoozNetsOff 92]

The Kings were also a much more defensive team for most of Kopitar's career and he didn't get to pile up secondary assists on a lethal PP.

That PP is lethal because of Backstrom. Also, great players produce regardless.

 

[KoozNetsOff 92]

now imagine if Kopitar had OV on his wing his whole career..... that said I do think its pretty close regardless, but 2 Cups as your #1C makes it pretty clear.

anyway, you Caps fans are always biased on here. You wouldve chose Kuzy over Kopitar too.

I don't care for fantasy scenarios. It's just as likely that Kopitar and OV had zero chemistry together. Anyway, Backstrom has proven he can produce without OV so I don't know what you're trying to imply.

For better player today yes, obviously not for career.

 

[Ace of Hades]

Backstrom has 5 top 10 pt finishes, Kopitar only has 1. Backstrom has 5 PPG seasons, Kopitar only has 1. Kopitar is better defensively, but not enough to make up the huge gap in their offense.

Go look at who Backstrom has played with compared to Kopitar.

 

[JaegerDice]

Two of the more underrated players in the NHL.

Went with Kopitar.

 

[MartinS82]

Went Kopi here, but that dude always keeps me wanting more. Wish he'd use that big frame and take pucks hard to the front of the net more often. Oh well, still a beast.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

No, he's just such an unnoticeable player. Points or not in the playoffs. He's not elite in anything. He doesn't do any element of the game exceptionally, he doesn't have any super clutch moments.

His biggest crime is being boring. He does everything exceptionally.

and re: clutch moments:

Stanley Cup Final, Game 1 OT:



Kings/Sharks reverse sweep Game 7 GWG:



etc.