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Todd Cordell

I think Auston Matthews should be the 1st overall pick and for me it's not really close.

Matthews posted better numbers than Jack Eichel while playing for the USNTDP and followed that up by dominating men in a league and country he was unfamiliar with.

Patrik Laine is a very good goal scorer, and has more flash in his game, but I think Matthews is the more complete player, the better player, and he just happens to play a more important position.

I think he has potential to be a top-tier two-way center for more than a decade and usually it's not a good idea to pass on those types of players.

James Tanner

I am starting to wonder if in 2005 there were people debating whether or not the Penguins should select Bobby Ryan instead of Crosby. The choice to pick Matthews is unanimous and I think it's ridiculous that anyone is even debating this. The only reason it's even happening is because people are bored their team is out of the Playoffs and the media outlets need something to go on about.

Who cares what Patrick Laine does in one single tournament? We do know that Matthews had a great year playing against men and that he is likely to be the second best player in the NHL for the next 10 or 15 years after Connor McDavid.

Also, last year people were also arguing over whether or not someone would pick Eichel over McDavid. It's the same thing this year. The Leafs are picking Matthews and there is absolutely no question.

And even if the Leafs didn't believe in Matthews like it seems 99% of people do, they still wouldn't draft Laine, they'd trade the pick to Arizona, which they also won't do because when a player of Matthews' quality is available, it would be absolute incompetence to not select him.

Ed Stein

In my opinion the Leafs should take Auston Matthews. The kid can be the face of the franchise for a decade or more. Patrick Laine has the talent to be a fantastic player, but Matthews is the real deal. Toronto can sell him to the fans and build a winning team around him.

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