I think that if you took away both players, Toronto would still make the play-offs and possibly win the division. Edmonton would likely miss the play-offs and would have a shot at being last in the division.
- doktordave

That has more to do with one of the teams being a fringe playoff team and one team being a contender.

Matthews! McD points are off power play! Big deal…….Matthews has most even strength goals on top of that. Stop McD speed and he’s got nothing……Matthews can stick handle out of a phone booth and score!

That said, the North is weak so I don’t put too much stock in either accomplishment.
- Bullot

If you look at each conference, remove the team with the lowest goals against (Carolina, Islanders, Leafs and Vegas), add up the goals against for the remaining teams in each division, divide them by the 6 or 7 teams remaining, and divide them by games played you get the following:

Average goals against (not including teams with fewest goals against in each conference)

Central - 2.934
East - 3.098
North - 3.006 (2.987 if you replace leafs with oilers)
West - 3.014

So the Leafs are playing against opponents averaging less goals against per game than both the East and West conferences.

Yes for his time, however in terms of ability Ovechkin is a better goal scorer. Did Gretzky have a harder shot? no. More accurate? no. Faster skater? no. Better puck handler? no.

You can go down the list and there wont be a skill that anyone can point to that says Gretzky was the better goal scorer. Only the number of goals itself.
- Izzo

First, in his prime, Gretzky could handle the puck. I would say it isn't even close between him and Ovi in their primes. He didn't have to be fast, he could read the ice like no one before, and I'd argue no one after.

Second, I'd argue for the most part, the same can be said for the majority of great players. Mario Lemieux didn't have a harder shot or the fastest, the same with Crosby, and even guys that were great but on level below such as Sakic, Jagr, Yzerman etc. At no point were any of these guys the fastest, hardest shot or even the best puck handlers in the league. When you have the hockey IQ these guys had, the rest will fall into place.

Sorry, but neither of them would have accomplished these things in a regular season format facing higher quality competition on a regular basis.

While I still expect the two of them along with MacKinnon to compete for the scoring title every year, you WILL NOT see these kinds of numbers again once they return to the regular format.

Sorry, but neither of them would have accomplished these things in a regular season format facing higher quality competition on a regular basis.

While I still expect the two of them along with MacKinnon to compete for the scoring title every year, you WILL NOT see these kinds of numbers again once they return to the regular format.
- Rinosaur

Why isnt mackinnon performing at these levels in an equally weak division

Draisitl is not way better defensively then Mcdavid or Matthews .

I don't get the Mathews is great defensively stuff. I've personally never thought that watching him. He is no Bergeron or Kopitar. Even mentioning Mathews among those guys is rediculous.

McDavid isn't either. THIS year McDavid has been the better 2 way player over Matthews. Tons of take a ways and some very noticable plays down low a bit of PK time and has started hitting more. This year I don't know how anyone can say Mathews is better defensively than McDavid. Last year sure maybe. I don't think Mathews is even trusted on the PK with his "defensive" play.

My point is neither are great defensively and neither should be getting a lot of praise over the other. You know who does tho? Leon Draisaitl. Leon absolutely can be named in the same breath as Bergeron and Kopitar AND he scores AND he has far more points than Mathews.

What Matthews is doing for goal scoring is prime Ovechkin. Absolutely amazing and will get some hardware for it.

What McDavid is doing is pure otherworldly generational stuff.

Lost in the duffle is the reining Hart trophy and hopefully selke finalist performance of Leon Draisaitl. Their is a strong argument that what Leon is doing this year surpasses Matthews due to be the far superior two way player to both while putting up massive points as well.

Ps: please don't say Draisaitl is a product of McDavid. Mathews is more a product of Marner than Draisaitl is McDavid without question.
- Aerchon

A quick glance at the xGF and xGA differential is pretty telling:

AM34 = +17.6
McJesus = -4

Auston also has more TK than McJesus (45 to 31 respectively). He also has more blocks (46 to 21).

But yes, do tell me how AM34 is worse defensively.

Draisitl is not way better defensively then Mcdavid or Matthews .
- explorer

Why isnt mackinnon performing at these levels in an equally weak division
- TVR.MapleLeafs

Why did MacKinnon have more points in less games than Matthews last year?

Nice try though.

Anyone who thinks that the competition in their division is relative to the rest of the league is a serious moron.

When Matthews puts up 40G in 49 games and his regular competition is Boston, Tampa, Washington, Pittsburgh, Carolina, Florida and even the Rangers I'll eat the biggest plate of crow ever.

Does anybody know where you find empty net points for individual players?

For the record, I'm not saying Matthews will never hit or even top 40G or that McD will never toy with around 120/130 points. I'm saying Matthews will NEVER finish a season with .82GPG and MacKinnon will NEVER finish the season with 1.85Pts/G over the course of a standard 82 game season format.

Why did MacKinnon have more points in less games than Matthews last year?

Nice try though.
- Rinosaur

How old are both players? How do their seasons at the same age compare?

Thank you for calling.

Anyone who thinks that the competition in their division is relative to the rest of the league is a serious moron.

When Matthews puts up 40G in 49 games and his regular competition is Boston, Tampa, Washington, Pittsburgh, Carolina, Florida and even the Rangers I'll eat the biggest plate of crow ever.
- Rinosaur

Matthews and McDavid would be doing this in any division. Do you want that crow roasted, or fried?

How old are both players? How do their seasons at the same age compare?

Thank you for calling.
- Zezel

I love that you think you had a mic drop moment, but you literally proved nothing. MacKinnon is not part of the discussion. I simply threw him in the conversation anecdotally for top players in the league.

Soooo, what you said does not negate the fact that how they perform in their division IS NOT relative to what would happen against the rest of the league.

Thanks for stopping by.

Matthews and McDavid would be doing this in any division. Do you want that crow roasted, or fried?
- Zezel

Well, you're dumb, so I don't want you cooking anything.

Apples and oranges. Both amazing.
- dstewart

This is an idiotic take.

Oranges are way better than apples.

Toronto and Edmonton's best competition are each other and they're not exactly top defensive teams. The dropoff after them is steep. WPG and MTL are pretty mediocre.

Colorado, Vegas, Tampa, Carolina, Florida, Boston, Pittsburgh, NYR and Washington are all equal if not better than Toronto or Edmonton. Let's not forget Dallas and Nashville are unlikely to repeat this type of season.

They aren't going to put up those kind of numbers when all those teams come back in the fold.

Does anybody know where you find empty net points for individual players?
- explorer

NHL.com

Got to stats, skaters, then click on the miscellaneous report.

Both have had amazing seasons! But if neither wins the Cup, who gives scrap about statistics!

Does anybody know where you find empty net points for individual players?
- explorer

But in case others are wondering:

Matthews has no EN goals, 2 EN assists.

McDavid has 2 EN goals, 5 EN assists.

But in case others are wondering:

Matthews has no EN goals, 2 EN assists.

McDavid has 2 EN goals, 5 EN assists.
- Atomic Wedgie

Actually, that is a good stat to know. I think the only point to count should be the goal. What do you think?

It helps that they both play in a sh*tty division.
- Marwood

wow...brilliant deduction champ!

Connor McDavid is more impressive, Matthews plays in the weakest division in hockey

In comparing those numbers . These players played the same 6 teams all year. You begin to figure out what works. Some guys struggle against some teams . If this wasn’t a Covid season I can’t see matthews get 60 goals or even 50.. McDavid can easily get 100 points every year.
- tkearle

Talking out your arse I see, he was on pace for over 50 last year.