Is this the same NHL that didn't think Malkin was one of the top 100 players?
According to the NHL network:
11. Patrice Bergeron
12. Jonathan Toews
13. Anze Kopitar
Exactly thisIt's certainly better than most lists. For me, Matthews is too high and Stamkos/Scheifele should switch.
Crosby
McDavid
Malkin
Backstrom
Stamkos
Getzlaf
Seguin
Tavares
Bergeron
Kopitar
Scheifele
Draisaitl
Eichel
Kuznetsov
Matthews
Carter
Toews
Johansen
Barkov
Kesler
I will admit though, I find it funny how people are so adamant about Matthews not deserving to be at #4 since he has only played one season, while simultaneously saying nothing about McDavid being #1 while he has only played a season and a half.
Fair list.
Matthews is better than all those centers below him on that list, only teenage rookie in nhl history to finish top 3 in goals in the league.
How many of those other centers put up his numbers in his rookie year? On top of that, he did it with only playing with rookies, post the most consistent linemates of those centers and compare it to Matthews.
It's obvious why Matthews is ranked so high, he's elite at everything that matters and he can generate an insane amount of scoring chances.
14th among centers in PPG last year while still being a very good all around player (if falling in that area recently). It's not that ridiculous. He's also lumped with Bergeron and Kopitar. Seems like for the most part after the big 3 (Sid, McDavid, Malkin) they put the top established offensive centers then that 2-way group of Bergeron/Kopi/Toews, then the young guys (Eichel/Draisaitl/Barkov). Matthews seems to stand out as breaking that mold though
According to the NHL network:
1. Connor McDavid
2. Sidney Crosby
3. Evgeni Malkin
4. Austin Matthews
5. Nicklas Backstrom
6. John Tavares
7. Steven Stamkos
8. Tyler Seguin
9. Ryan Getzlaf
10. Mark Scheifele
11. Patrice Bergeron
12. Jonathan Toews
13. Anze Kopitar
14. Jack Eichel
15. Leon Draisaitl
16. Ryan Johansen
17. Aleksander Barkov
18. Jeff Carter
19. Evgeny Kuznetzov
20. Sean Monahan
You can't say Eichel is overrated without saying that Matthews is crazy overrated at #4Eichel is overrated. Scheifele, is underrated. Otherwise, it's a decent list.
Matthews being a rookie and a teenager is completely irrelevant
Matthews in the top 5 is the biggest reach
Really showing their bias
People like to mix up impressive rookie season vs better regular season
Matthews has quickly become the most overrated player in hockey
Are we just going to ignore that he was 129th in assists last year?
How can Eichel be too high if he's better than #4?
Here's the top 20 centers from HFBoards Forward Ranking poll series I did this summer.
1. Crosby
2. McDavid
3. Malkin
4. Tavares
5. Backstrom
6. Stamkos
7. Getzlaf
8. Seguin
9. Matthews
10. Eichel
11. Bergeron
12. Scheifele
13. Barkov
14. Kopitar
15. Pavelski
16. Toews
17. ROR
18. Kuznetsov
19. Forsberg
20. Giroux
Way better if you ask me
At least people on here won't be all annoyed about this part being wrong.
40 goals is 4 less than the Rocket winner. Being a rookie has nothing to do with it. He's definitely top ten. And as the other centers age, he'll be right behind McDavid.
Eichel should be #5 if Matthews is #4
Crosby
McDavid
Malkin
Backstrom
Stamkos
Getzlaf
Seguin
Tavares
Bergeron
Kopitar
Scheifele
Draisaitl
Eichel
Kuznetsov
Matthews
Carter
Toews
Johansen
Barkov
Kesler