You don't think Matthews is "generational" in the sense of Crosby or McDavid? I really do think he'll be a Hall of Famer on par with both of them at the end of his career.
- James_Tanner

Let me say this about that - NO not on a level of Sid or 97

Could he be HOF sure .... he has a nice start but can't see him being on par with either at this point ... Even with his injuries & because he overcame them Sid is an inner circle HOF - The B2B is impressive enough and with no D - his consistency and greatness .... and 97 is just on another planet -

I'm taking a healthy Stamkos over these guys. Key is him staying healthy.
- tomburton99

I could definitely understand the last 3, but Bergeron and Kopitar.. I don't think I could.

It probably has something to do with Tampa having serious firepower up front (even if it's not quite on par with Toronto), a solid goaltender and a defense that the Leafs would cream their pants for.
For someone who puts all his faith in statistics, you sure take a lot for granted when it comes to the Leafs. Yes, they scored goals like almost no other team last year, but they gave up just as many. Yes, their back end SEEMS to be improved (or, at least more experienced), but they haven't proven it yet. And how many times have rookies had great years, then fallen off the next? You are counting on 3 of them (minimum) to just carry on with no thought that they may stumble.
- Tonybere

Outside of Heddy/Stralman the Lightning's D blows. (minus Sergachev, since I don't know jack poop about the kid.)

I can't seriously believe anyone thinks the Lightning have a better team than Toronto.
- James_Tanner

I don't have a problem with Matthews as a top 5 Centre , but I don't agree with you that the Leafs will run away with the division.

Come on, Crosby, MacDavid, Matthews, Stamkos and Malkin is a clear top five. I don't know how anyone could even argue it. You can put Bergeron in this top five as a tie.

Everyone else including Tavares is down a significant drop off to the next tier.
- James_Tanner

Yeah I dunno, I'm gonna wait until after this season to judge Matthews. He had a great rookie season, I'm going to wait before throwing him in the conversation for top 10 C's. At the moment, I don't believe he is on Sid/McD's level. I probably have...

1.Sid
2.McDavid
3.Malkin

Backstrom
Bergeron
Tavares
Seguin
Kopitar
Scheifele

all interchangeable next in line. After the top 3, I could see anyone from 4-15'ish being switched in and out of the rankings to be honest.

Outside of Heddy/Stralman the Lightning's D blows. (minus Sergachev, since I don't know jack poop about the kid.)
- j.boyd919

Have coburns wheels fallen completely off? I dunno, in the bit I saw last year he still seemed effective. At least as effective as whoever the leafs 3rd guy is anyway.
And then of course the fairly large chasm between hedman /stralman and gardiner/Reilly at present


Plus, the bolts have been to the finals with a fairy similar roster. I think that should count for something. It's close no doubt, but it's certainly not crazy to think the bolts are the slightly better team. Hell, they were one of the league favs just one year ago and not much has changed really

I could definitely understand the last 3, but Bergeron and Kopitar.. I don't think I could.
- j.boyd919

Bergeron is a top 5 center without a doubt. I'm not sure there's a center I take over him outside of sid and 97 actually...even geno or Austin

Yeah I dunno, I'm gonna wait until after this season to judge Matthews. He had a great rookie season, I'm going to wait before throwing him in the conversation for top 10 C's. At the moment, I don't believe he is on Sid/McD's level. I probably have...

1.Sid
2.McDavid
3.Malkin

Backstrom
Bergeron
Tavares
Seguin
Kopitar
Scheifele

all interchangeable next in line. After the top 3, I could see anyone from 4-15'ish being switched in and out of the rankings to be honest.
- j.boyd919

I think Eichel will cement himself near the top of this list if he can stay healthy.

Come on, Crosby, MacDavid, Matthews, Stamkos and Malkin is a clear top five. I don't know how anyone could even argue it. You can put Bergeron in this top five as a tie.

Everyone else including Tavares is down a significant drop off to the next tier.
- James_Tanner

Majorly disagree. Crosby, McDavid, Matthews, Malkin as clear top 4.

Then Tavares, Toews and IMO I believe most GM's might take Bergeron over Stamkos.

Stamkos I think slides ahead of the next tier. Backstrom, Scheifele, Kopitar, Eichel, Getzlaf.

Have coburns wheels fallen completely off? I dunno, in the bit I saw last year he still seemed effective. At least as effective as whoever the leafs 3rd guy is anyway.
And then of course the fairly large chasm between hedman /stralman and gardiner/Reilly at present


Plus, the bolts have been to the finals with a fairy similar roster. I think that should count for something. It's close no doubt, but it's certainly not crazy to think the bolts are the slightly better team. Hell, they were one of the league favs just one year ago and not much has changed really
- HB77

Coburn is serviceable but if he is your 3rd best D man it is a relatively weak group overall. Sergachev and Koekkoek could change that if they play well. When they made it to the cup they had a much more useful Garrison. I think they are currently cup contenders but they pretty much need everything to go right for them. Not much of a margin of error for them.

Majorly disagree. Crosby, McDavid, Matthews, Malkin as clear top 4.

Then Tavares, Toews and IMO I believe most GM's might take Bergeron over Stamkos.

Stamkos I think slides ahead of the next tier. Backstrom, Scheifele, Kopitar, Eichel, Getzlaf.
- willey101

Toews is a top 20C at best

Toews is a top 20C at best
- Feds91Stammer

No way. He doesn't put up huge numbers but he is arguably the best full 200 foot ice center in the game. He's right there in top 10 for sure. IMO top 7

Today @ 11:51 AM ET
I can't seriously believe anyone thinks the Lightning have a better team than Toronto.

Hedman and Stralman could play all 60 minutes and TBL would still have better defense than us

I can't seriously believe anyone thinks the Lightning have a better team than Toronto.
- James_Tanner

THIS IS GOLD JERRY! GOLD!

Hedman and Stralman could play all 60 minutes and TBL would still have better defense than us
- mgriffen

Don't need a strong D when you have that top 9.
Might be the best top 9 in the NHL

Hyman-Matthews-Mylander
JVR-Bozak-Marner
MArleau-KAdri-Komorov

That a sick top 9

Toews is a top 20C at best
- Feds91Stammer

He's a slightly more skilled Jordan Staal with way better linemates.

No way. He doesn't put up huge numbers but he is arguably the best full 200 foot ice center in the game. He's right there in top 10 for sure. IMO top 7
- willey101

Based on what?

Have coburns wheels fallen completely off? I dunno, in the bit I saw last year he still seemed effective. At least as effective as whoever the leafs 3rd guy is anyway.
And then of course the fairly large chasm between hedman /stralman and gardiner/Reilly at present


Plus, the bolts have been to the finals with a fairy similar roster. I think that should count for something. It's close no doubt, but it's certainly not crazy to think the bolts are the slightly better team. Hell, they were one of the league favs just one year ago and not much has changed really
- HB77

He's an okay 3rd pairing guy, nothin special. 12 points last year is pretty bleh.

No way. He doesn't put up huge numbers but he is arguably the best full 200 foot ice center in the game. He's right there in top 10 for sure. IMO top 7
- willey101

Where/how are you coming to this conclusion? His "200 foot" game has gone downhill as Hossa started to decline.

Based on what?
- Feds91Stammer

Simple question.
International competition where Canada dresses by far the best lineup in hockey.
What do the teams look like?
They have a ton of centers to choose from but can only have 4 to play down the middle, who are they:

They can choose from: Crosby, McDavid, Toews, Tavares, Bergeron, Benn, Carter, getzlaf, Thornton, Seguin, Monahan, Duchene, Johansen, Giroux, Scheifele.

Who do you think are the top 4 centers?

The answer will probably unanimously be: Crosby-McDavid-Toews......with all other players playing around them.

Don't need a strong D when you have that top 9.
Might be the best top 9 in the NHL

Hyman-Matthews-Mylander
JVR-Bozak-Marner
MArleau-KAdri-Komorov

That a sick top 9
- willey101

And I'm very excited about that. Although I do think that our defense will bite us, we just need some solid stay at home D, not puck movers. That's why a guy like Polak was so valuable to us last year. He'd clobber you if you tried to sit in front of the net and didn't pull a Gardiner by panicking and blindly shooting the puck up the boards.

Simple question.
International competition where Canada dresses by far the best lineup in hockey.
What do the teams look like?
They have a ton of centers to choose from but can only have 4 to play down the middle, who are they:

They can choose from: Crosby, McDavid, Toews, Tavares, Bergeron, Benn, Carter, getzlaf, Thornton, Seguin, Monahan, Duchene, Johansen, Giroux, Scheifele.

Who do you think are the top 4 centers?

The answer will probably unanimously be: Crosby-McDavid-Toews......with all other players playing around them.
- willey101

So based on 0 logic. Congrats.

Simple question.
International competition where Canada dresses by far the best lineup in hockey.
What do the teams look like?
They have a ton of centers to choose from but can only have 4 to play down the middle, who are they:

They can choose from: Crosby, McDavid, Toews, Tavares, Bergeron, Benn, Carter, getzlaf, Thornton, Seguin, Monahan, Duchene, Johansen, Giroux, Scheifele.

Who do you think are the top 4 centers?

The answer will probably unanimously be: Crosby-McDavid-Toews......with all other players playing around them.
- willey101

Instead of answering his question with a question, why don't you provide some sort of analysis?

Simple question.
International competition where Canada dresses by far the best lineup in hockey.
What do the teams look like?
They have a ton of centers to choose from but can only have 4 to play down the middle, who are they:

They can choose from: Crosby, McDavid, Toews, Tavares, Bergeron, Benn, Carter, getzlaf, Thornton, Seguin, Monahan, Duchene, Johansen, Giroux, Scheifele.

Who do you think are the top 4 centers?

The answer will probably unanimously be: Crosby-McDavid-Toews......with all other players playing around them.
- willey101

Crosby
McDavid
Scheifele
Bergeron

Instead of answering his question with a question, why don't you provide some sort of analysis?
- j.boyd919

You telling him not to answer his question with a question, while answering his question with a question is making my head hurt.