Aside from the fact that Kovalev had a ridiculous shot, could just deke and go through anyone in the league and was as strong as a goddamn horse.... yeah sure... they both had blond hair.
- Scabeh

lmfaooooooooo

I think Nylander still has another level he can get too, he just doesn't always show it..
- PatC80

I honestly think he will get better with more maturity. He's still young.

Willie's pretty much modeling his game after Patty Kane. Willie's 0.3 hits/GP is exactly the same as Kane's career #'s
- 21peter

Now he just needs to double his points.

I honestly think he will get better with more maturity. He's still young.
- Archaic

I agree.. I think he could be so much better.

I agree.. I think he could be so much better.
- PatC80

If we want to be cup winners/contenders he needs to be for sure.

Now he just needs to double his points.
- Garnie

HE NEED BETTER LINEMATES!!!

That's exactly my point, thank you..

Nylander can be so much more, I don't know if it's about being lazy, or lacking passion or his 'give-a-poop meter is stuck at 0..
Similar to Kovalev, who at times, looked like an all-world player and other times looked like he didn't even want to be on the ice..
IMO, both Nylander and Kovalev are really good players that have, or had, more to give but couldn't or wouldn't do it with any consistency.
- PatC80

Outside of willie not giving 100% most nights like kovalev, the comparisons ends there. Kovalev was on a another level that willie just cant see right now.

I agree.. I think he could be so much better.
- PatC80

We hope so.

Outside of willie not giving 100% most nights like kovalev, the comparisons ends there. Kovalev was on a another level that willie just cant see right now.
- Fakepartofme

Right, and that's my point..

When he wanted to be at that level, he would. Just wasn't always the case. I think Nylander can also reach that level. We've seen flashes of it from him, he has it in him.

new month
new blog
new team

#LETSGO

HE NEED BETTER LINEMATES!!!
- 21peter

Haha, nice try.

I agree.. I think he could be so much better.
- PatC80

just like yakapoop😍

just like yakapoop😍
- Skalapy

Outside of willie not giving 100% most nights like kovalev, the comparisons ends there. Kovalev was on a another level that willie just cant see right now.
- Fakepartofme

he sees ghosts 🤣

edit:lmfaooooooooo

just like yakapoop😍
- Skalapy

Right, and that's my point..

When he wanted to be at that level, he would. Just wasn't always the case. I think Nylander can also reach that level. We've seen flashes of it from him, he has it in him.
- PatC80

Weve seen flashes of him and know he can be better for sure.
But still hasnt shown anything that he could be like kovalev at his best.

Weve seen flashes of him and know he can be better for sure.
But still hasnt shown anything that he could be like kovalev at his best.
- Fakepartofme

I disagree.. Kovalev was 28 years old, the first time he averaged more than a point per game in a season.. I think Nylander is closer to Kovalev than you think.

I get where you're coming from, but I don't think it's accurate for any number of reasons. Matthews can and has back checked effectively. Matthews knows that offense stems from defense, but half the time he doesn't do it. Or he's getting lost in his coverage - but he's there, which means he will get better. When we got Kessel, he arrived from a defensively sound Boston team at the age of 22 with no ability to play defense after 3 years of being told and taught to play defense surrounded by guys who were doing just that. Matthews is just 22 and is on a team that doesn't offer a lot of defensive role models, so he's still developing. I have faith in him. I'm not forgiving his inconsistent effort and play this year. He's a big man. He should learn to absorb hits and play his size.

Kessel was never down low in the defensive zone. If he was, someone probably whacked his stick there after knocking it out of his hands. Or he was running away from John Scott.

The similarity between the two is the lethal wrist shot. Kessel's similarities to Nylander are that he has good breakout speed and generates offense from the wing on the rush - but I agree that Nylander doesn't have the shot, so his offense is based on zone entry and then finding someone to dish with or finish for him.
- Monkeypunk

The biggest difference between Nylander and Kessel is production.

IF Matthews started actually trying in his own zone then the comparison to Kessel would be less accurate. Lately, Matthews is making highlight-reel lazy plays in his own zone. There were a couple truly laughable moments on Saturday.

Explain
- Fakepartofme

Think of everything people criticized Kessel for and then tell me that Matthews is an improvement.

Matthews has a better shot, but they had similar numbers. In fact, there was a 3 year period where Kessel had the better numbers by comparicsn to the league. Similar effort in their own zone and I seriously question Matthews gas tank given the fact that he floats around doing nothing a lot of the time.

I am not saying Matthews *can't* be more than Kessel. I am saying he isn't right now, and not for the past 2 years frankly.

Willie's pretty much modeling his game after Patty Kane. Willie's 0.3 hits/GP is exactly the same as Kane's career #'s
- 21peter

Yeah, just like I am modelling my game after Messier.

Aside from the fact that Kovalev had a ridiculous shot, could just deke and go through anyone in the league and was as strong as a goddamn horse.... yeah sure... they both had blond hair.
- Scabeh

Kovalev was a beast when he wanted to be. That certainly wasn't game in and game out, though. His inconsistency held the Habs back in the 2000s. As much as I hate the Scabs, I'll give credit where it's due.

Think of everything people criticized Kessel for and then tell me that Matthews is an improvement.

Matthews has a better shot, but they had similar numbers. In fact, there was a 3 year period where Kessel had the better numbers by comparicsn to the league. Similar effort in their own zone and I seriously question Matthews gas tank given the fact that he floats around doing nothing a lot of the time.

I am not saying Matthews *can't* be more than Kessel. I am saying he isn't right now, and not for the past 2 years frankly.
- Aetherial

Okay come on.

I agree that Matthews needs to work on his defensive game but don't go crazy here.

Matthews did what Kessel was supposed to do for his entire tenure here in his rookie season by scoring 40 goals. He has been the best 5v5 goal scorer in the entire NHL as C...

I get the frustration but don't go overboard.




Also Matthews has back checked more times in his past 3 games than Kessel has in his entire life.

new blog everyone