So why exactly is MacKinnon better than Matthews again?

[Sidney the Kidney]

Matthews last 4 season paces: 83 pts, 88 pts, 94 pts, 104 pts
Mackinnon's last 4 season paces: 107 pts, 99 pts, 111 pts, 111 pts,

The the gaps by year were 24, 11, 17, 7

Matthews got the closest he has gotten this year....then shit the bed in the playoffs...again. Matthews is a great player. No shame in being just below MacKinnon.

But goals !!!

 

[Boxscore]

Even as a Leafs fan I will admit that MacKinnon is a better player -- at least right now -- than Matthews is. And I would admittedly take him over Matthews today if we had the chance.

For me, if we're removing all bias, this is simple -- MacKinnon is better than Matthews is every aspect except for scoring goals. He's a better skater, he's more explosive, plays with more intensity, produces more overall points, and he has shown that he can dominate for stretches in the playoffs. And, although Matthews "scores more goals", MacKinnon is no slouch either and has elite mitts. I also prefer MacKinnon's competitive spirit and fire than Matthews' nonchalant, ho-hum, play it cool, attitude.

All of that said, Matthews is still probably my favorite player in the league right now, and I'm thrilled that he's the cornerstone of the Leafs. But, yeah, full disclosure, I take MacKinnon over him.

 

[MaKarter]

Even as a Leafs fan I will admit that MacKinnon is a better player -- at least right now -- than Matthews is. And I would admittedly take him over Matthews today if we had the chance.

For me, if we're removing all bias, this is simple -- MacKinnon is better than Matthews is every aspect except for scoring goals. He's a better skater, he's more explosive, plays with more intensity, produces more overall points, and he has shown that he can dominate for stretches in the playoffs. And, although Matthews "scores more goals", MacKinnon is no slouch either and has elite mitts. I also prefer MacKinnon's competitive spirit and fire than Matthews' nonchalant, ho-hum, play it cool, attitude.

All of that said, Matthews is still probably my favorite player in the league right now, and I'm thrilled that he's the cornerstone of the Leafs. But, yeah, full disclosure, I take MacKinnon over him.

Agree.

And as an Avs fan I would not be surprised if someday Matthews is seen as the better player. Two great players and both of their best play is yet to come.

 

[The Abusement Park]

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

His 2nd round looked like Matthews best round tbf.

 

[SenzZen]

Then next time don't bother replying. But no, you just wanted to do a fly-by character assassination though.

Way to prove my point.

 

[Honkybonk]

I also like the fact Mackinnon will drop the mitts if necessary, not so sure Matthews would ever do that.

 

[wingnutks]

Regular season, debatable topic
Playoffs, since 2016....one of them is 1st in ppg, another is 66th

 

[6stringmofo]

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.

I call it "getting past the first round"

 

[6stringmofo]

 

[Pierce Hawthorne]

Lmao... the guy just scored 41 goals in 52 games......

I really don't think you understand the concept of an assist....

 

[wingnutks]

I really don't think you understand the concept of an assist....

Also... 1 goal in 7 playoff games this year

 

[Grabner]

MacKinnon has 354 points in his last 273 games.

Matthews has 351 points in his 334 game career.

Although I prefer Mack right now, this is such a sophistic/cherry picking argument; Mack became a ppg player in his 5th NHL season while Matthews became a ppg player in his 2nd season...

 

[IWantSakicAsMyGM]

Although I prefer Mack right now, this is such a sophistic/cherry picking argument; Mack became a ppg player in his 5th NHL season while Matthews became a ppg player in his 2nd season...

The Avs were a dumpster fire for most of Mack's first 4 years. Do you think Matthews would have been a PPG player if he were dragging the corpse of Jarome Iginla up the ice every shift?

 

[Grabner]

The Avs were a dumpster fire for most of Mack's first 4 years. Do you think Matthews would have been a PPG player if he were dragging the corpse of Jarome Iginla up the ice every shift?

We'll never - Eichel has been a PPG player with a fire dumpster team, Matthews maybe would've been with the Avs or not, who knows...point being it is still cherry picking the stats
But hey I'll take Mack over Matthews still bud

 

[IWantSakicAsMyGM]

We'll never - Eichel has been a PPG player with a fire dumpster team, Matthews maybe would've been with the Avs or not, who knows...point being it is still cherry picking the stats
But hey I'll take Mack over Matthews still bud

Isn't looking at specific ages also "cherry picking", with the goal of making Matthews look better by comparison? Or does completely ignoring the context of those point totals, and the quality of their respective teams prove something?

Eichel has also only been PPG twice in 6 years, and needed someone better than Iginla's corpse to do it. Or is Skinner scoring 40 goals exactly the same as Iginla scoring 47 points?

 

[Oilslick941611]

because Mackinnon is the most overrated player in the league and a golden child of HF hipsters who have a hard time acknowledging McDavid and Matthews as the current top tier players.

 

[Spilot23]

because Mackinnon is the most overrated player in the league and a golden child of HF hipsters who have a hard time acknowledging McDavid and Matthews as the current top tier players.

 

[Grifter3511]

So for what it's worth, the annual NHL player's poll has revealed that the players think Matthews is the better goal scorer, has a better shot, and is a better dresser. But they also think MacKinnon is the more complete player, a better stick handler, and if they had one game to win it all they would pick MacKinnon before Matthews.

NHLPA Player Poll 2020-21

 

[AdvancedPressure]

He's got more fire. You can see it. Mackinnon hates to lose. Matthews on the other hand is off on date nights with Bieber mere weeks after no showing (again) in the playoffs. I predicted this would happen before the MTL series started.

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

We'll never - Eichel has been a PPG player with a fire dumpster team, Matthews maybe would've been with the Avs or not, who knows...point being it is still cherry picking the stats
But hey I'll take Mack over Matthews still bud

It's also cherry picking stats to focus on what each guy did at age 19 or 20 when the discussion is who is a better player *RIGHT NOW*.

That's like asking who was better at their peak between Joe Thornton and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and then bringing up Thornton's first two seasons in the league to argue RNH is better at their peak if you compare their early career performance. Thornton's 7 point rookie season has zero relevance to what he was at his peak.

 

[Ghost of Ethan Hunt]

Maybe cuz of this? Lol

 

[El Travo]

Although I prefer Mack right now, this is such a sophistic/cherry picking argument; Mack became a ppg player in his 5th NHL season while Matthews became a ppg player in his 2nd season...

You can easily say that the start of Matthews' career has been better than MacKinnon's, but that's not what's being asked in this thread. Judging the current ability of a player based off his seasons from 6-8 years ago is asinine.

 

[Bouboumaster]

Almost same amount of points but for half the salary and he's actually good in the playoffs.

He wasn't completly owned by Phillip Danault at the very least

 

[rahad]

Is not even close.... Nathan only cost 6.3m for another 2 years.... That is by far the best contract in the NHL. No idea how Sakic made him sign only for 6.3m.

 

[Grabner]

You can easily say that the start of Matthews' career has been better than MacKinnon's, but that's not what's being asked in this thread. Judging the current ability of a player based off his seasons from 6-8 years ago is asinine.

And i dont disagree and it’s why I would take Mack now for sure, anyways I think both teams are happy with their studs lol