Would you pick Ovechkin or Crosby to build a team around?

Also, yeah, he's right up with Wayne Gretzky as far as being one of the best goal scorers ever
- PatC80

Crosby for sure.

But that takes nothing away from Ovechkin... Crosby is something else.

I really don’t think he is..

He scored 27 goals this year and competes more. Nylander might be more smooth, or fun to watch. But he’s not a factor in the playoffs.

If I were being completely honest, I think some people have a hard time looking at him objectively because he’s good looking hahaha. It’s nature, people default to that, but if he was an ugly mutt he wouldn’t have half the fan girls he does.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

Nylander
GP: 239
Points: 162
PPG%: 0.6778

DeBrusk
GP: 138
Points: 85
PPG%: 0.6159

I think overall the better player is Nylander. With that said, DeBrusk could have another good playoff like last year, and Nylander could had another bad one.. However, we need a good playoff from Nylander

I really don’t think he is..

He scored 27 goals this year and competes more. Nylander might be more smooth, or fun to watch. But he’s not a factor in the playoffs.

If I were being completely honest, I think some people have a hard time looking at him objectively because he’s good looking hahaha. It’s nature, people default to that, but if he was an ugly mutt he wouldn’t have half the fan girls he does.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

He was a pretty big factor against Washington two years ago. Him and Matthews both played great hockey. One bad playoffs, one good playoffs.

DeBrusk put up 27g this year. Nylanders career high is 22g. Goals are more important than assists. He brings way more energy too, this isn’t curling, compete matters.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

Goals are obviously important, but it's not like they make themselves.

And thanks for pointing out that it isn't curling, I was getting kinda confused there.

Crosby for sure.

But that takes nothing away from Ovechkin... Crosby is something else.
- Scabeh

We aren’t talking about Sid and Ovi..

Plus, it doesn’t matter what anyone thinks anymore because there’s graphs and charts now that automatically determines a players ability.

But seriously ppl, at this point after what we’ve seen from this season and last years playoffs, if you would rather have Nylander on your roster for the playoffs than DeBrusk, you’re a special kind of fan.. and that’s okay.

Goals are obviously important, but it's not like they make themselves.

And thanks for pointing out that it isn't curling, I was getting kinda confused there.
- lumlums

You can score goals without assists, but can’t get assists without goals. Lol..

Nylander
GP: 239
Points: 162
PPG%: 0.6778

DeBrusk
GP: 138
Points: 85
PPG%: 0.6159

I think overall the better player is Nylander. With that said, DeBrusk could have another good playoff like last year, and Nylander could had another bad one.. However, we need a good playoff from Nylander
- PatC80

Nylanders game has dropped off and he was flat out terrible this year. He’s the softest player I have ever seen play in the NHL. Luckily this series isn’t going to come down to DeBrusk vs Nylander because we’d be (frank)ed if it did.

We aren’t talking about Sid and Ovi..

Plus, it doesn’t matter what anyone thinks anymore because there’s graphs and charts now that automatically determines a players ability.

But seriously ppl, at this point after what we’ve seen from this season and last years playoffs, if you would rather have Nylander on your roster for the playoffs than DeBrusk, you’re a special kind of fan.. and that’s okay.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

I like that this is a default answer now.


Anyway, suck it up. Dubas is investing big into nerds to look at pie charts and bar graphs for the Leafs.

If you want a team where you don't have to worry about that, might I suggest the Edmonton Oilers?

He was a pretty big factor against Washington two years ago. Him and Matthews both played great hockey. One bad playoffs, one good playoffs.
- ClarksonDavid

He had a good season going into that series playing with Matthews all year, who inflated his pts. There’s nothing he did this season that should suggest that he’ll be a factor in this series. Maybe the Caps didn’t shut him down, but the Bruins did and they will again.

I am hoping that it was because the leafs were not skating through checks and drawing penalties.

While the refereeing was bad, as other pointed out, it is always bad.

The big fear is that they have not been able to draw penalties in the regular season this year. If they play a similarly passive style and let the Bruins dominate them, they won't be even on the penalty sheet, again.
- Aetherial

Leafs were last in powerplay opportunities, 2nd last in PK opportunities.

The answer is pretty simple:

This team is soft as butter. They don't play hard, so nobody ramps it up to play hard against them.

At least not in the regular season...

It's not really fair to judge Nylander on this season alone. Both Nylander and DeBrusk are 22 years old.. So far at this point in their careers, Nylander is better.
- PatC80

Tyler (frank)ing Ennis has more goals (almost double) than Nylander this year.

One season doesn't make a career but that's got to be embarrassing.

I like that this is a default answer now.


Anyway, suck it up. Dubas is investing big into nerds to look at pie charts and bar graphs for the Leafs.

If you want a team where you don't have to worry about that, might I suggest the Edmonton Oilers?
- lumlums

If you want to be a fan girl and physical play makes you uneasy, might I suggest you stick to soccer, Juventus maybe? That Rinaldo guy is a man rocket.

Suck it up, buttercup.

I'm here to sign up for the DeBrusk fan club.

To be fair, I don't see how someone away from his NHL team for months and can go back in perfect midseason form.

I'd be tempted to say that every player who held out for a contract for a significant amount of time ended up having a bad season when he did come back.
- Scabeh

Having your timing off is perfectly understandable. Hell, it's understandable.

Having your cardiovascular levels off is completely unacceptable.

FFS, hire a personal trainer.

I'm here to sign up for the DeBrusk fan club.
- RickJames77

No sign up needed..

Just burn your Nylander fan club card.

It'll be exciting to see who will suck "it" up more....

I'm also intrigued about what "it" is.

You can score goals without assists, but can’t get assists without goals. Lol..
- Arctic_AARDVARK

This is true, but as a team game, you score more goals with assists than you do without. I loved Pavel Bure. He didn't win any cups. Granted I also liked Oates, and he also won zero cups.

Pfft. I think we can simply agree they're all losers.

No sign up needed..

Just burn your Nylander fan club card.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

If I never had one to begin with does that mean I'm automatically entered?

Having your timing off is perfectly understandable. Hell, it's understandable.

Having your cardiovascular levels off is completely unacceptable.

FFS, hire a personal trainer.
- Atomic Wedgie

So he was out of shape? First time I hear of it.

Tyler (frank)ing Ennis has more goals (almost double) than Nylander this year.

One season doesn't make a career but that's got to be embarrassing.
- JohnFergusonJr

Here's an amazing statistic for you:

Ennis is 5' 9", 161 lbs.

And that's his listed stats, so he's probably smaller than that.

I can't believe he's still alive.

Nylanders game has dropped off and he was flat out terrible this year. He’s the softest player I have ever seen play in the NHL. Luckily this series isn’t going to come down to DeBrusk vs Nylander because we’d be (frank)ed if it did.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

It just might.

Bergeron vs. Matthews
Pastrnak vs. Marner
Marchand vs. Tavares
DeBrusk vs. Kapanen
Krejci vs. Kadri
Krug vs. Rielly
Rask vs. Andersen

Then there's Nylander vs. Wagner? He could really be the difference maker if he wakes up because everybody else has a dance partner and Nylander could be the one who isn't being challenged.

Leafs were last in powerplay opportunities, 2nd last in PK opportunities.

The answer is pretty simple:

This team is soft as butter. They don't play hard, so nobody ramps it up to play hard against them.

At least not in the regular season...
- Atomic Wedgie

Tbh, if special teams does not heavily favour one side, like it did last year. I like our chances 5 on 5.

So he was out of shape? First time I hear of it.
- Scabeh

You need to spend more time in Augello's threads.

Just kidding. GTFO.

This is true, but as a team game, you score more goals with assists than you do without. I loved Pavel Bure. He didn't win any cups. Granted I also liked Oates, and he also won zero cups.

Pfft. I think we can simply agree they're all losers.
- Monkeypunk

This whole convo is dumb..

I just don’t understand why people think the playoffs are the same as the regular season. It’s never been that way, soft players rarely perform well in the post season.

Here's an amazing statistic for you:

Ennis is 5' 9", 161 lbs.

And that's his listed stats, so he's probably smaller than that.

I can't believe he's still alive.
- Atomic Wedgie

His next shift against Chara could be his last.