McKinnon makes others around him better. Much better all-around player.

And he doesn’t have a caterpillar growing under his nose...
- Pairo11

also fun fact

neither are Gingers





can you imagine having to look in the mirror everyday at that travesty that you got stuck with, Red hair and freckles equates to having no soul

Here we go...
- Aetherial

ek's like a beggar for hits.

i guess it's better than stealing.

also fun fact

neither are Gingers





can you imagine having to look in the mirror everyday at that travesty that you got stuck with, Red hair and freckles equates to having no soul
- PinkSock

Sorry EK. But these two can't be compared imo, since there's three years of developmental difference between the two. But if I had to pick I'd take Matthews.

In there first four years....
Matthews- 158g, 127a, 285p, and a +37.
MacKinnon - 75g, 131a, 206p, and a -5.

Not even close, so how good can Matthews be in 3 more years. Lets add three more years of Matthews averages and compare since he is pretty consistent...

Matthews- 277g, 223a, 499p and a +65.
Mackinnon - 190g, 305a, 495p and a + 39.

Pretty close in points but a massive goal differential. On paper Matthews also projects to be a better 2 way player. Either one would be awesome to have but I give the edge to Matthews...

also fun fact

neither are Gingers





can you imagine having to look in the mirror everyday at that travesty that you got stuck with, Red hair and freckles equates to having no soul
- PinkSock

Mackinnon every day and twice during cancelled seasons.

I kinda wish the post about shootouts was true. It would mean there could be a playoff at least. However, there won't be. RIP 2020 season. More important things like actually life and death, and we're just getting started ... unfortunately.

Sorry EK. But these two can't be compared imo, since there's three years of developmental difference between the two. But if I had to pick I'd take Matthews.

In there first four years....
Matthews- 158g, 127a, 285p, and a +37.
MacKinnon - 75g, 131a, 206p, and a -5.

Not even close, so how good can Matthews be in 3 more years. Lets add three more years of Matthews averages and compare since he is pretty consistent...

Matthews- 277g, 223a, 499p and a +65.
Mackinnon - 190g, 305a, 495p and a + 39.

Pretty close in points but a massive goal differential. On paper Matthews also projects to be a better 2 way player. Either one would be awesome to have but I give the edge to Matthews...


- Buck Norris

Don't bother.

Mackinnon had a great playoff run where he was dominant.
Matthews is a Leaf.

That is the only counterargument required.

Sorry EK. But these two can't be compared imo, since there's three years of developmental difference between the two. But if I had to pick I'd take Matthews.

In there first four years....
Matthews- 158g, 127a, 285p, and a +37.
MacKinnon - 75g, 131a, 206p, and a -5.

Not even close, so how good can Matthews be in 3 more years. Lets add three more years of Matthews averages and compare since he is pretty consistent...

Matthews- 277g, 223a, 499p and a +65.
Mackinnon - 190g, 305a, 495p and a + 39.

Pretty close in points but a massive goal differential. On paper Matthews also projects to be a better 2 way player. Either one would be awesome to have but I give the edge to Matthews...


- Buck Norris

Question wasn't "Who has best career average to date?"

You are averaging Mackinnon's first few years in there on a not-so-great Col team. Don't you think his last 3 years are more of the trend you should be considering? It's not like his 90-point seasons were a fluke.

When u watch them both play. MacKinnon stands out as he drives the play and makes everyone better. Mathews has a great shot but disappears often and doesn’t dominate play just a quick release. Mack all day

Well this is easy.

Leaf fans will say Matthews
Hockey Fans know it's MacKinnon.

No offense to Matthews, but he just isn't the best all around out of the two.

Thanks for your unbiased opinion.
- gergeswillems

Where is your Season Ticket status?

Mackinnon! Plays more of the 200 foot game, gets into the dirty areas, and just seems to want to be the best player on the ice every damn time!

Mackinnon! Plays more of the 200 foot game, gets into the dirty areas, and just seems to want to be the best player on the ice every damn time!

Current cap relative? Nate takes it. If they landed as a FA I had to sign, I take Auston.

Where is your Season Ticket status?
- Drapz

Question wasn't "Who has best career average to date?"

You are averaging Mackinnon's first few years in there on a not-so-great Col team. Don't you think his last 3 years are more of the trend you should be considering? It's not like his 90-point seasons were a fluke.
- Nasty_Duck

The funny part is that I know you to be one of the more reasonable posters, and yet, you managed to pick apart his numbers because Mackinnon had a slower start...

and yet, you didn't credit that his analysis assumed no improvement on Matthews' part for the next 2 years.

People are so 100% certain in the anti-leaf answer as usual, that they simply explain away, or outright ignore, any numbers they don't like.

Well this is easy.

Leaf fans will say Matthews
Hockey Fans know it's MacKinnon.

No offense to Matthews, but he just isn't the best all around out of the two.
- Nelson19777

Not all Leafs fans will say Matthews. Some of us recognize that, today, Mackinnon is the better player.

...and that is the literal answer to a meaningless, click-bait question.

Things other fanbases are pretty much incapable of understanding:

Matthews is a couple years behind him.

Mackinnon had a fairly sudden breakout in his 5th season. Mattthews, the last 4 weeks or so before the season stopped (his 6th), had also taken his game to another level at both ends of the ice.

People will point out that Colorado had weaker teams or that Matthews NEEDs Marner ... but then turn around and talk about how poopty the Leafs are in the next thread, and don't recognize that MacKinnon's jump co-incided with Rantanen's jump.

So, while people can jump to a conclusion today, their comments betray a tendency to discount anything that would favor the Leaf option. Numbers are literally being ignored or thrown out.

... just like every single other "aspect of the Leafs" vs. "aspect of any other team" question.

This is a perfect example of the stupidity of so many out there!
Reading responses just solidifies how obsessive (with hate) fans are of the Toronto Maple Leafs. It's quite comical actually.

First 4 seasons - Mackinnon 300 games, 75 goals and 206pts
First 4 seasons - Matthews - 282 games, 158 goals and 285pts.

It's not even close!!!

Matthews at 22 is quite a bit better than MacKinnon was at 22. Matthews plays a very good 2 way game and is one of the most relentless players in the NHL when he does not have the puck.
I love MacKinnon, was always a fan, even when people were souring a bit on him after he declined following his first season. But based on Matthews growth curve, elite talent, age and trajectory, there is no doubt that Matthews is the player any GM in the NHL would select.


But Leaf haters are so angry for some odd reason (to my entertainment) they would cut off their own nose to spite their face!! It's quite amusing.

Matthews all the way (moving forward) and the stats prove it.


Edit: This isn't so dissimilar to when most none Leaf fans claimed that Laine was the player the Leafs should have taken and he was the better player. Pretty much that stupidity died. MacKinnon is not Laine, but Matthews is showing that he will be the better of the 2 with some more NHL experience...it's already pretty close and within a couple years, no doubt Matthews will be the guy.

This is a perfect example of the stupidity of so many out there!
Reading responses just solidifies how obsessive (with hate) fans are of the Toronto Maple Leafs. It's quite comical actually.

First 4 seasons - Mackinnon 300 games, 75 goals and 206pts
First 4 seasons - Matthews - 282 games, 158 goals and 285pts.

It's not even close!!!

Matthews at 22 is quite a bit better than MacKinnon was at 22. Matthews plays a very good 2 way game and is one of the most relentless players in the NHL when he does not have the puck.
I love MacKinnon, was always a fan, even when people were souring a bit on him after he declined following his first season. But based on Matthews growth curve, elite talent, age and trajectory, there is no doubt that Matthews is the player any GM in the NHL would select.


But Leaf haters are so angry for some odd reason (to my entertainment) they would cut off their own nose to spite their face!! It's quite amusing.

Matthews all the way and the stats prove it.
- Cooshie

I get your point, but I think the GMs would find it a tough call.

Mackinnon has already taken his game to the next level, and proven himself dominant in a playoff series.

Matthews has yet to do either. It looks like he will get. He has the size and talent to get there... but he has to actually do it.

Mackinon only really broke out as a very good player at the same age Matthews is now.

I get your point, but I think the GMs would find it a tough call.

Mackinnon has already taken his game to the next level, and proven himself dominant in a playoff series.

Matthews has yet to do either. It looks like he will get. He has the size and talent to get there... but he has to actually do it.
- Aetherial

Matthews was great last year while playing 6-7 minutes less per playoff game than Mckinnon was.

How can anything be clear through rose-coloured glasses?
- Tonybere

Am I wrong?

I get your point, but I think the GMs would find it a tough call.

Mackinnon has already taken his game to the next level, and proven himself dominant in a playoff series.

Matthews has yet to do either. It looks like he will get. He has the size and talent to get there... but he has to actually do it.
- Aetherial

I suppose if it was a GM picking for this year, this playoffs, he may go with MacKinnon (and that is no guarantee either - pretty hard to pass on the top 1 or 2 goal scorer in the NHL who is great in his own end as well), but even by next year, Matthews could and even should pass MacKinnon in value.. If GM's had a redraft of all teams today - I don't see Matthews falling below top 3. MacKinnon would not be in the top 3 IMO.

The funny part is that I know you to be one of the more reasonable posters, and yet, you managed to pick apart his numbers because Mackinnon had a slower start...

and yet, you didn't credit that his analysis assumed no improvement on Matthews' part for the next 2 years.

People are so 100% certain in the anti-leaf answer as usual, that they simply explain away, or outright ignore, any numbers they don't like.
- Aetherial

I'm not anti-Leaf (well, within the division - yes - frank the Leafs).
But in this case I'm not taking sides (though I am upset pasrnak was not included)

Joking aside, I don't think it's unreasonable to take the last 3 years for trending purposes.

Matthews had a fast start - on a team that had a much better offensive upside, and he does have room for even more improvement. But to expect him to have similar improvment over next few years that Mackinnion had over his slow start is, IMO, unrealistic.

Just like when evaluating a hockey player over the twilight of his career. When Gretz joined St.L, are you going to project his next 4 years by including the early hall-of-fame years? Or more likely his last 4 years?

If AM played like he was 6’3” 220 it’d be closer.

Nate the great... that speed man...
plus he singlehandedly smoked the Flames in the playoffs .. which AM hasn’t been able to do as yet..

Both great players -