GARTH'S CORNER: Best Of The Rest

McDavid's deal will be the comparable by which the game's best young stars will be paid moving forward. Jack Eichel, Erik Karlsson, John Tavares, Ryan Johansen, Auston Matthews, Patrick Laine, Mark Scheifele, Leon Draisaitl, Samson Reinhart, Mitch Marner and other young stars will be signing fat contract extensions in the next 12 months.

Sorry, but Samson Reinhart doesn't belong in this group. He'll never live up to his draft status. Just like big brother. Neither does Marner, for that matter. At least not yet

Sorry, but Samson Reinhart doesn't belong in this group. He'll never live up to his draft status. Just like big brother. Neither does Marner, for that matter. At least not yet

It took Schieffele how long to reach his point totals from last season? Ya 4 seasons.

Reinhart just finished his 2nd season guy. Waaaaaaaaaaay to early to say he won't reach what people thought he would. Jut because he was a 2nd overall pick doesn't mean he was hailed to be a 90 point guy. 60-70 points from him is basically what everyone expected anything more would be great. He got 47 points in his SECOND YEAR.

Some people just don't know hockey

It took Schieffele how long to reach his point totals from last season? Ya 4 seasons.

Reinhart just finished his 2nd season guy. Waaaaaaaaaaay to early to say he won't reach what people thought he would. Jut because he was a 2nd overall pick doesn't mean he was hailed to be a 90 point guy. 60-70 points from him is basically what everyone expected anything more would be great. He got 47 points in his SECOND YEAR.

Some people just don't know hockey
- Jammerz04

You don't get it. Everyone in that group are established players. All but Samson and Mitch. Both COULD be stars but are not there yet. It is my opinion Reinhart will never live up to his draft position. I am. personally I think both Nylander's will be better players than either of them. Stop being such a mindless homer

You don't get it. Everyone in that group are established players. All but Samson and Mitch. Both COULD be stars but are not there yet. It is my opinion Reinhart will never live up to his draft position. I am. personally I think both Nylander's will be better players than either of them. Stop being such a mindless homer
- BernardShakey

Don't waste your time.. this is the same homer who said Eichel > Matthews

Don't waste your time.. this is the same homer who said Eichel > Matthews
- poopstash

Only a fool would think the jury still isn't out on that debate.

Matthews had better teammates, and played in a better system under a far better coach last season. And he was healthy throughout.

Eichel missed 21 games and played another couple dozen or so on a bad ankle. He didn't have consistent line mates and was playing a flawed system designed by an overrated coach who refused to communicate with his players. And yet he still managed to produce almost a point-per-game.

Having said this, maybe Matthews is better than Eichel. I know I was very impressed by how cool and composed he was for a rookie and at the same time Eichel seemed to let his frustrations get to him as a sophomore.

But let's watch them play 500 games in the league before passing a final judgement on that.

Only a fool would think the jury still isn't out on that debate.

Matthews had better teammates, and played in a better system under a far better coach last season. And he was healthy throughout.

Eichel missed 21 games and played another couple dozen or so on a bad ankle. He didn't have consistent line mates and was playing a flawed system designed by an overrated coach who refused to communicate with his players. And yet he still managed to produce almost a point-per-game.

Having said this, maybe Matthews is better than Eichel. I know I was very impressed by how cool and composed he was for a rookie and at the same time Eichel seemed to let his frustrations get to him as a sophomore.

But let's watch them play 500 games in the league before passing a final judgement on that.
- Losman

Solid post. It's fair to say Mathews had one outstanding and impressive season and Eichel had 2 seasons that were somewhat underwhelming by comparison, though.But for (frank) sales, it is waaaaay to early to define either player.
It is possible that Mathews never scores 40 again ( Teemu never came close to 76 or whatever again ) and Eichel might go on a 5 year run of scoring 40+....

....who can know such things?

Can someone please explain why Jack Eichel did not make NHL Networks top 40 up and coming young players list. Was he not just shy of a point a game after he came back from his ankle injury. I think the NHL Network has some spaining to do. This is a complete Travesty.!!!😠😠😠

Can someone please explain why Jack Eichel did not make NHL Networks top 40 up and coming young players list. Was he not just shy of a point a game after he came back from his ankle injury. I think the NHL Network has some spaining to do. This is a complete Travesty.!!!😠😠😠

Can someone please explain why Jack Eichel did not make NHL Networks top 40 up and coming young players list. Was he not just shy of a point a game after he came back from his ankle injury. I think the NHL Network has some spaining to do. This is a complete Travesty.!!!😠😠😠
- BigDawgHome

That is rediculous. If you look at the entire scope of young players and try to imagine who will be among the top 20, or even 10 players 5 years from nowits hard to imagine that Eichel wont be on that list. For sure there will some surprise emergences and some super rookies we dont even know yet but I think its a safe assumption Jack will at the very least be somewhere in the mix.
Even if Jack doesnt turn out to be a future version of of Malkin, Kane or Ovechkin, he will likely,at worst, be on the level with Tarasenko, Stamkos, or Tavares...are those guys not considered top 20 players,at least among the forward ranks?

Eichel hasn't even started to show what he can do! This kid could be top 5to10 in scoring? Jesus were talking about guys with one or two seasons and Matthews and Eichel who cares?they weren't in the same draft class! why compare?and both fan bases I'm sure are pretty dam happy to have them!

Eichel hasn't even started to show what he can do! This kid could be top 5to10 in scoring? Jesus were talking about guys with one or two seasons and Matthews and Eichel who cares?they weren't in the same draft class! why compare?and both fan bases I'm sure are pretty dam happy to have them!
- MR.Hunter

Sure...but you can't really compare him with McDavid either, and they were in the same draft class.

Mentioning Reinharts name in that company was classic Garth. Good for a chuckle anyway


Tavares
karlsson
Matthews
laine
Reinhart??

It took Schieffele how long to reach his point totals from last season? Ya 4 seasons.

Reinhart just finished his 2nd season guy. Waaaaaaaaaaay to early to say he won't reach what people thought he would. Jut because he was a 2nd overall pick doesn't mean he was hailed to be a 90 point guy. 60-70 points from him is basically what everyone expected anything more would be great. He got 47 points in his SECOND YEAR.

Some people just don't know hockey
- Jammerz04

You think ?


I dunno man. You don't put that kind of ceiling on a 2nd overall in a deep draft. For sure you expected 80- 90 in his prime. And still hope

But Multiple guys behind him are outstripping him already.
All of nylander, ehlers, draisaitl, pastranak had over 60 points.
Pastranak had 30 + goals and Leon had almost 80 points.

I'm not saying he's peaked or anything, but you're rationalizing. No way being the 5th or 6th best guy taken after ekblad is acceptable. You were hoping for a true 1c. Thus far you got what might be a solid 2c.
47 is super solid this quickly. But it's not enough considering where you picked him.

I see tons of similarities with nuge. Quality player. Glad to have him. And I think there's more there.
But thus far, his offensive output isn't good enough and overall hes a disappointment

You think ?


I dunno man. You don't put that kind of ceiling on a 2nd overall in a deep draft
Multiple guys behind him are outstripping him.

I'm not saying he's peaked or anything, but you're rationalizing. No way being the 5th or 6th best guy taken after ekblad is acceptable. You were hoping for a true 1c. Thus far you got what might be a solid 2c
- HB77

Can't say I'm not grateful as an Oilers fan that Buffalo went with Samson.

Can't say I'm not grateful as an Oilers fan that Buffalo went with Samson.
- Larsson_fan

:
:



Jesus yes

Everything about Leon's game/Size etc is such a great compliment to connor


Love me some big German

Only a fool would think the jury still isn't out on that debate.

Matthews had better teammates, and played in a better system under a far better coach last season. And he was healthy throughout.

Eichel missed 21 games and played another couple dozen or so on a bad ankle. He didn't have consistent line mates and was playing a flawed system designed by an overrated coach who refused to communicate with his players. And yet he still managed to produce almost a point-per-game.

Having said this, maybe Matthews is better than Eichel. I know I was very impressed by how cool and composed he was for a rookie and at the same time Eichel seemed to let his frustrations get to him as a sophomore.

But let's watch them play 500 games in the league before passing a final judgement on that.
- Losman

Better teammates? Matthews played all year with two other rookies. Including Hyman who isn't a top six forward.

Eichel missed time? He played on the #1 line all year. 20 mins a game, first PP unit. Played with Buffalo's top forwards. Despite these facts the Sabres had a WORSE record with Jack in the lineup than when he was injured.

500 games? The average career isn't even 500 games. Look at Lindros career arc. Players are getting paid at 20 now, you look at their stats now.

Eichel will be a star. Just like Matthews. Time will tell if they become superstars.

Reinhart? Nice player, Third liner on a good team. But you want more out of a guy who was drafted 2nd overall. Not to mention the studs that were drafted after him. If I'm as Sabres fan I worry about his skating and willingness to compete