So why exactly is MacKinnon better than Matthews again?

[Frosty415]

Regular season is somewhat close but haven't really seen Matthews take over in the playoffs like MacKinnon has. That's the difference.

MacKinnon has that skating and speed where he can manufacture a really good scoring chance off the rush when his team has nothing going on and the game is mucked up. Auston Matthews has not shown he can do that yet.

Take over in the playoffs? take over what? the first round?

I saw all the Vegas/Avs games and MacK did not take over at all

 

[BLONG7]

Pretty much a toss up............Mackinnon seems a more complete player....Matthews a much better goal scorer...if I could choose, Mackinnon would be the guy.

 

[Paul4587]

Year for year, Matthews has been far superior. Wait until Matthews hits his prime, he will blow MacKinnon out of the water

Pretty sure what we are seeing now is Matthews prime.

 

[BLONG7]

Your team is going into Game 7 of the SCF. The NHL introduces a new twist that you can add an elite player for the final game.

The choices are Mac or Matthews.

You have first choice, your opponent gets the other player.

Make your pick

Price!! ok just kidding....
Mac.....much better playoff performer, and overall game.

 

[frog]

Mackinnon was shutdown for 2.5 playoff games. Mathews has been shutdown his entire playoff career. Is this thread for real.

Auston Mathews career playoff games = 32 games, 24 points and negative 3
Nate Mackinnon career playoff games = 50 games, 70 points and plus 15

Recently watched on youtube a bunch of his overtime playoff goals too. Don't even know if mathews has ever even scored a goal in overtime during the playoffs.

 

[Sempiternal]

Leafs fans are so desperate for validation.

 

[Unspecified]

Take over in the playoffs? take over what? the first round?

I saw all the Vegas/Avs games and MacK did not take over at all

Ah so you watched 1 round then. I like how you conveniently left out the 1st round and the 1st game against Vegas where Mac was on a mission. What happened to Matthews with only 5 points in 7 games. What a leader!

 

[TheDawnOfANewTage]

What is this thread? Why is this thread?

Dude, wait until your guys actually win something or f***ing at least perform well when it matters before pulling this nonsense.

 

[Sensators]

Are either better than back to back cup champ pat maroon???? WHEERES THE EVIDENCE???

 

[Unspecified]

Are either better than back to back cup champ pat maroon???? WHEERES THE EVIDENCE???

Or Dan Carcillo

 

[DJJones]

Honestly, not really sure how anyone can watch the two of them a lot and not think MacKinnon is better.

 

[Jason MacIsaac]

Why do we need to compare players that will never get traded for one another. All that matters is neither made it past the 2nd round. Does it help people sleep better at night knowing that an online forum agrees one player is better than the other?

 

[Legion34]

I picture guys like Nick Backstrom and Phil Kessel when I think of Austin Matthews.

Future Stanley cup winners?

 

[Legion34]

How can anyone think anything other than it’s Matthews?

first 5 years. Mack hadn’t won a round. Missed the playoffs 3 times.

as far as seasons go. Mack was a 15-25 goal 55-65 pt player over 5 seasons.

Matthews has averaged 49 goal pace despite multiple injuries and 2 shortened pandemic seasons.

mackinnon age for age has shown nothing remotely comparable to Matthews. Even this year. Matthews was clearly better

 

[TeddyBare]

How can anyone think anything other than it’s Matthews?

first 5 years. Mack hadn’t won a round. Missed the playoffs 3 times.

as far as seasons go. Mack was a 15-25 goal 55-65 pt player over 5 seasons.

Matthews has averaged 49 goal pace despite multiple injuries and 2 shortened pandemic seasons.

mackinnon age for age has shown nothing remotely comparable to Matthews. Even this year. Matthews was clearly better

Pffffftttt
from OP
And before you say their playoff records, they're not that much different

Shall we have a look at their playoff stats?

 

[beowulf]

To me Mckinnon is better all around player. Matthews is the better/more natural goal scorer but that is the only thing he is a fair bit better at.

 

[Legion34]

Pffffftttt
from OP
And before you say their playoff records, they're not that much different

Shall we have a look at their playoff stats?

the part where Mack missed 3 playoffs and lost in round one twice? Sure.

 

[TeddyBare]

the part where Mack missed 3 playoffs and lost in round one twice? Sure.

No I was thinking the part where

Mackinnon has 69 point in 50 playoff games

while Matthews has 24 points in 32 games

you glossed over that I see

 

[FinRanger]

My point is every player has their strengths and weaknesses. I don't understand how MacKinnon having a better skating game makes him a better center and hockey player overall in comparison to Matthews.

The stats tell a completely different narrative than the one pushed on these forums.

"the stats tell a completely different narrative.." And only brings up goal scoring as an argument..

 

[jcs0218]

I would take Matthews and I imagine 9/10 GMs would as well (there is always that one outlier)

In various GM, coach, and scout polls that you will see pop-up during the season/offseason, MacKinnon usually ranks higher than Matthews.

 

[jcs0218]

For the last 2 minutes of a tied game or a game where your team is behind by one goal, I would probably choose Matthews.

He has a deadly shot that he can score with from anywhere in the offensive zone.

However, for the other 58 minutes of the game? I think MacKinnon brings more overall ability to the table.

 

[Herby]

Matthews is a complete no show in the playoffs and needs Marner to produce in the RS.

It's so funny how everyone tries to say someone is a product of someone else. In this situation you will read one post saying Matthews makes Marner and then another one saying the exact opposite. I'm arguing at another board about the same thing with the Habs duo.

You know it is possible to have two great players on one line, someone isn't always making someone else.

 

[WetcoastOrca]

Matthews has almost as many goals as MacKinnon in almost half as many games.

And before you say their playoff records they're not that much different even though MacKinnon has had a much better cast with him.

All that says is that Matthews is a better goal scorer and that he had a great start to his career while MacKinnon had a slower start. It says nothing about who is currently the better all round player nor does it tell us who will have a better peak.
I think most people would take MacKinnon here. There is also a big difference between losing in the playoffs to Vegas in the quarter finals and losing in the first round to Columbus and Montreal in successive years.

 

[Legion34]

No I was thinking the part where

Mackinnon has 69 point in 50 playoff games

while Matthews has 24 points in 32 games

you glossed over that I see

and 9 years of “ain’t won shit”.

 

[Legion34]

All that says is that Matthews is a better goal scorer and that he had a great start to his career while MacKinnon had a slower start. It says nothing about who is currently the better all round player nor does it tell us who will have a better peak.
I think most people would take MacKinnon here. There is also a big difference between losing in the playoffs to Vegas in the quarter finals and losing in the first round to Columbus and Montreal in successive years.

i think a player being hands down better at every comparable year.... and then scoring 21 more goals this year. Tells us at least something?