If the Penguins had the #1 overall pick that year would they be better off getting Ovechkin at wing or Malkin at center???
- all-pgh

They would have taken Ovechkin, he was the clear cut #1 with Malkin as one of those "great #2s that would be a #1 many other years" type of thing is how I have read it.

Who's your comp for Matthews? I've heard the gamut of Crosby, Malkin, Kopitar, and Toews, but none of those guys have very similar games. Obviously, a player of Matthews' caliber is simply Auston Matthews, but if you had to pick a comp, who would it be?
- Victoro311

I bet if you asked that In the Leaves blog, there would be some that say he has no comparison. Hell there were a couple preseason saying he's already the best 2 way player in the game - that was before the season even started & a single season played by Matthews.

They would have taken Ovechkin, he was the clear cut #1 with Malkin as one of those "great #2s that would be a #1 many other years" type of thing is how I have read it.
- Guile

Of course they would have taken ovechkin, but that wasn't the question that the poster asked. The question was if you believe they'd be better off picking Malkin.

When the Pens didn’t win the first overall to get Ovie I said it was a blessing in disguise.

The idea of idea of having two number one centers was far better than a top center and top winger.

I don't trust myself to answer the Ovi vs. Geno question unbiasedly, because I'd never consider for a second rather having Ovechkin over Malkin. I think the two are about comparable when it comes to overall gamebreakinig talent and from a pure team construction stand point center is simply just so much more important than wing. I think that having a generational player like Malkin as your #2 center behind another generational talent and the mismatches that creates leads to more games won than having arguably the greatest goalscorer of all time.
- Victoro311

done deal. Eugene everyday!

If the Penguins had the #1 overall pick that year would they be better off getting Ovechkin at wing or Malkin at center???

Basically the question should be, are the Pens better with Crosby+Malkin than they would have been with just Ovi? The answer to that question is pretty obvious. If they had been able to pick first and get Ovi that would have impacted their chances in the Crosby draft lottery and they may not have gotten Crosby in the 2005 draft. The Capitals drafted 14th in that draft and picked some guy named Sasha Pokulok, who played less than 70 games in the AHL.

Of course they would have taken ovechkin, but that wasn't the question that the poster asked. The question was if you believe they'd be better off picking Malkin.
- lemieux_66

When has that ever stopped people on the Buzzzzzzzz?

I bet if you asked that In the Leaves blog, there would be some that say he has no comparison. Hell there were a couple preseason saying he's already the best 2 way player in the game - that was before the season even started & a single season played by Matthews.
- Aussiepenguin

It's hard to compare him to any player but if I had to I will compare him to Crosby. Not necessarily in style of play, but more so that he's good at everything and the coach can confidently put him on the ice in any scenario. He also has the attitude to continue improving his game.

A young Crosby says he needs to improve at Face-offs. He did. Crosby says he's gonna shoot more, puts up 50+ goals, etc.

This is the kind of person Matthews is too. His faceoffs in year 1 were pretty bad, now he's above 50%. Babcock is starting to give him more ice time and putting him on more defensive zone draws while trying to close out a game. Something he didn't do much of last season.

I wouldn't go as far as to call him the best two way player in the game, but he is amazing. This season his PP unit is sucking badly so most of his goals and points are actually 5v5.

It's hard to compare him to any player but if I had to I will compare him to Crosby. Not necessarily in style of play, but more so that he's good at everything and the coach can confidently put him on the ice in any scenario. He also has the attitude to continue improving his game.

A young Crosby says he needs to improve at Face-offs. He did. Crosby says he's gonna shoot more, puts up 50+ goals, etc.

This is the kind of person Matthews is too. His faceoffs in year 1 were pretty bad, now he's above 50%. Babcock is starting to give him more ice time and putting him on more defensive zone draws while trying to close out a game. Something he didn't do much of last season.

I wouldn't go as far as to call him the best two way player in the game, but he is amazing. This season his PP unit is sucking badly so most of his goals and points are actually 5v5.
- Njuice

I agree with this. There's also just something about Matthews that reminds me about Sid in the way they carry themselves.

I think Matthews is going to accomplish a lot in his career.

I agree with this. There's also just something about Matthews that reminds me about Sid in the way they carry themselves.

I think Matthews is going to accomplish a lot in his career.
- Rinosaur

From what I've seen he seems a lot more mature and composed than Sid was at that age but I dont think he's as good on the ice as Sid was at that age. Sid at that age looked like he was shot out of a cannon every game.

I actually have Leafs fan buddies who think Matthews is a sociopath because he doesn't show much of any emotion haha...could be like a Dexter in the Toronto area....

It's hard to compare him to any player but if I had to I will compare him to Crosby. Not necessarily in style of play, but more so that he's good at everything and the coach can confidently put him on the ice in any scenario. He also has the attitude to continue improving his game.

A young Crosby says he needs to improve at Face-offs. He did. Crosby says he's gonna shoot more, puts up 50+ goals, etc.

This is the kind of person Matthews is too. His faceoffs in year 1 were pretty bad, now he's above 50%. Babcock is starting to give him more ice time and putting him on more defensive zone draws while trying to close out a game. Something he didn't do much of last season.

I wouldn't go as far as to call him the best two way player in the game, but he is amazing. This season his PP unit is sucking badly so most of his goals and points are actually 5v5.
- Njuice

Have to think playing against men before being drafted has 1. Taught him not to shoot his mouth off or be too cocky (Not that I'm saying he did that), but it would have matured him & his game. 2. Taught him how to play against bigger stronger opposition giving him a heads up on what to expect in the NHL physically.

I agree he's great, just not as great as some Leaves fans think just yet. Each player is their own identity, & the new models should be trying to play like the great older ones so there's bound to be similarity. It becomes a question of being able to do it, do it well, & do it consistently.

Whether he can lift his team to Cups will be a question that will be interesting to see play out.

From what I've seen he seems a lot more mature and composed than Sid was at that age but I dont think he's as good on the ice as Sid was at that age. Sid at that age looked like he was shot out of a cannon every game.

I actually have Leafs fan buddies who think Matthews is a sociopath because he doesn't show much of any emotion haha...could be like a Dexter in the Toronto area....
- MattStrat

Or he could just be shy?

Or he could just be shy?
- Rinosaur

I honestly dont watch enough Leafs games since he came around to know for sure. In interviews he seems pretty monotone...but in his first NHL game he scored 4 goals and I watched him not celebrate very much at all or look happy about it hahah

When the Pens didn’t win the first overall to get Ovie I said it was a blessing in disguise.

The idea of idea of having two number one centers was far better than a top center and top winger.
- Rinosaur

You knew that they were getting Crosby the next year? Are you part of the conspiracy?

Have to think playing against men before being drafted has 1. Taught him not to shoot his mouth off or be too cocky (Not that I'm saying he did that), but it would have matured him & his game. 2. Taught him how to play against bigger stronger opposition giving him a heads up on what to expect in the NHL physically.

I agree he's great, just not as great as some Leaves fans think just yet. Each player is their own identity, & the new models should be trying to play like the great older ones so there's bound to be similarity. It becomes a question of being able to do it, do it well, & do it consistently.

Whether he can lift his team to Cups will be a question that will be interesting to see play out.
- Aussiepenguin

Being 6'3 215 doesn't hurt either

You knew that they were getting Crosby the next year? Are you part of the conspiracy?
- Thorny87

The next season after Ovi was drafted was a lockout haha no one knew for sure who was going to pick 1st.

Its kinda funny though, my friends would blast me about being a Pens fan in the years leading up to 2005, understandably they were the absolute worst for a while, and jokingly Id always say "yeah make fun of them now but they will end up with Crosby and be a force again one day"

You knew that they were getting Crosby the next year? Are you part of the conspiracy?
- Thorny87

I’ll rephrase... I wanted a center. When the Pens drafted Sid, the idea of having two #1 centers made me feel drafting Malkin instead of Ovie was a blessing in disguise.

The next season after Ovi was drafted was a lockout haha no one knew for sure who was going to pick 1st.

Its kinda funny though, my friends would blast me about being a Pens fan in the years leading up to 2005, understandably they were the absolute worst for a while, and jokingly Id always say "yeah make fun of them now but they will end up with Crosby and be a force again one day"
- MattStrat

I just looked at the 2003-2004 roster again. Malone, Milan Kraft, Richard Tarsntrom, Alex Morozov, Rico Fata, Mike Eastwood, Koltsov, Melichar, Orpik, Straka, Steve McKenna, Ramzi Abid, Marc Bergevin, Tomas Surovy. WOW! How did we not with the Cup with this lineup?

ED: Of course, Tarnstrom's first name corrected to Richard.

Would have been amazing to see Crosby and Ovechkin on a line together every game. But I'm happy the way it worked and will take the center over the wing. Much harder to build a team around a wing. I really am not into tempting fate as both our shrewd moves and blunders have gotten us to the 2 time defending championship team we have now.

Would have been amazing to see Crosby and Ovechkin on a line together every game. But I'm happy the way it worked and will take the center over the wing. Much harder to build a team around a wing. I really am not into tempting fate as both our shrewd moves and blunders have gotten us to the 2 time defending championship team we have now.
- Tojo.

I feel like that combo would not have had chemistry. Ovie might be too selfish to play with Sid. I dunno. I think things turned out for the best. Plus the rivalry and all the chatter year after year is awesome.

Out of curiosity I was wondering how waivers miggt impact our team next year. I was looking at goalies. DeSmith would need to clear waivers while Jarry would not, so that certainly gives him an advantage to be the back-up next year as I think they'd rather retain their depth and let Jarry play regularly.

One thing I hadn't realized is not only did the Pens burn a year off Sprong's entry deal, they burned one off waivers as well. So guess he makes the team next year.

I thought as an 18 year old he had 4 years, but guess that changes when you activate your contract that young.

I just looked at the 2003-2004 roster again. Malone, Milan Kraft, Richard Tarsntrom, Alex Morozov, Rico Fata, Mike Eastwood, Koltsov, Melichar, Orpik, Straka, Steve McKenna, Ramzi Abid, Marc Bergevin, Tomas Surovy. WOW! How did we not with the Cup with this lineup?

ED: Of course, Tarnstrom's first name corrected to Richard.
- chimpira

hahah yeah it was hurtin'

I did love young Orpik though. He was one of my favorite players up until before he moved on...and the Pens moved on from him at the right time. It sucked seeing him go but it was for the best.

Rust full participant again today.

Rust full participant again today.
- Tojo.

Great success!

Jooris looks to be the scratch. That's probably mandated as the emergency recall before anyone blasts Sully.