It always seems to go back to this bullpoop that JT has no one around him and makes others better. Its crap. We heard the same thing about PA Parenteau. Yet he left and had an even Better year without JT. Moulson was putting up numbers before he played with JT. The JT hype this year was ridiculous. Made up by media because the Isles finally made the playoffs.
Let's look back again in a few years and see. Right now I say they are equal. JT is a center so right now would get a very slight edge. But these jokers going on about it being not even close are delusional.
- Iggysbff

That's all I had to read The debate is silly. Both players are studs and each team is lucky to have them.

That's all I had to read The debate is silly. Both players are studs and each team is lucky to have them.
- Vukota

Amen...can't say either one is miles ahead of the other.

Xxkeaner17xX

Can't believe you guys are considering signing him!

keaner17
- keaner17

Ummmm, no.

Trust me I live in Erie and have seen McDavid, he is going to be a star. While it may be junior hockey, other teams have a tough time stopping him. And that will continue into his pro career. There have already been many comparisons to Sid up here.

It always seems to go back to this bullpoop that JT has no one around him and makes others better. Its crap. We heard the same thing about PA Parenteau. Yet he left and had an even Better year without JT. Moulson was putting up numbers before he played with JT. The JT hype this year was ridiculous. Made up by media because the Isles finally made the playoffs.
Let's look back again in a few years and see. Right now I say they are equal. JT is a center so right now would get a very slight edge. But these jokers going on about it being not even close are delusional.
- Iggysbff

Oh yeah the media are always cramming how good the islanders are...If you watch ESPN (or any sports media) it's the Heat, Cowboys, Red Sox, annnnnnddddd Islanders!

Doesn't sound like you've seen many Islanders games
MacDonald belongs in the AHL, he's flat out awful. Streit is a defensive liability that had most of us cheering the moment the team decided not to resign him. He's also one of the worst dmen I've seen in years at keeping the puck in the offensive zone.
Overall I get what you're saying, and while I do think the Isles are better in terms of overall game, I think the Oilers are unquestionably the more offensively talented of the two. That's the point, having more offensive firepower keeps defenses a bit more honest when focusing on one player. Things will change for the Isles once Strome is in the mix, but right now, it's JT and a team full of third line players.


Xxkeaner17xX
- keaner17

I've seen a fair share of Islanders games, and it's not really debatable that Macdonald was at least deployed as a top 4 defender last year. Streit at the very least was a more experienced - if older - Justin Schultz. again, I think if you saw the oilers last year you'd agree that for all their skill they had a really hard time moving the puck and sustaining offensive pressure. Hall was easily our best weapon in that regard.

I've seen a fair share of Islanders games, and it's not really debatable that Macdonald was at least deployed as a top 4 defender last year. Streit at the very least was a more experienced - if older - Justin Schultz. again, I think if you saw the oilers last year you'd agree that for all their skill they had a really hard time moving the puck and sustaining offensive pressure. Hall was easily our best weapon in that regard.
- Morris

So was Thomas Hickey, Matt Carkner & Radek Martinek. Actually the bolded point makes my point which is it's tough to call the Isles defense 'better' than much of anything when slotting an AHL caliber guy like A-Mac as a top four. As for Streit, his defense was so awful that we slotted him on the bottom pairing against Pittsburgh.

I definitely agree Hall is unquestionably your best player and on the threshold of being elite, I'm just not so sure he's quite as good as JT at all facets of the game.

Xxkeaner17xX

Pull out stats all you want. It doesnt matter. Hall is a great player, no doubt. Maybe even one day he will be better. JT carries his team. He is a better overall player, not including the leadership qualities JT has on and off the ice. Anyone outside of Edmonton would take JT over Hall.
- Dedshark

I'm not an Oilers fan, and I'd take JT over Hall. I'm just saying they are very comparable players and trying to say Hall isn't on JT's level is pretty stupid.

I'm not an Oilers fan, and I'd take JT over Hall. I'm just saying they are very comparable players and trying to say Hall isn't on JT's level is pretty stupid.
- FinAddict

also keep in mind that Hall is playing with a wealth of offensive talent on his team with guys like Yakupov, Gagner, Eberle, Nugent-Hopkins, etc...
That tends to take the pressure off a guy. JT has Matt Moulson, who is merely a product of JT. After that, ......yeah.


Xxkeaner17xX
- keaner17

Ordinarily, I'd agree... But Eberle and RNH were injured for the entire season, and weren't really that good. Last season was easily Hall's best, and he didn't get a lot of help from the guys you named. Hall carried the Oilers.

I would say Hall is more physically dominating. Though Tavares might be harder to contain if you know what i mean? Like Hall will sometimes pull an Ovi and skate through people, where I think Tavares is stronger along the boards.

As for who I think is better, its kind of a bad comparison. One, your comparing a center to a winger, and I just about always give the edge to a center. And two, Hall has played one less season.

For those saying Hall had a better season last year: I disagree, sure he had a couple more points. Tavares also had way more goals (idk what you say, goals are harder to get than assists). And from watching them, Tavares imo was more dominating. (not to say hall isnt a dominant player)
Also I find Tavares a more complete 2-way player, but as a center he kind of has to be.

For those saying Hall isnt even close to being as good as Tavares: Get a grip on reality. Watch an oilers game for once. Hall can take over a game almost as well as anyone in the league. I think next season he will make alot of people look stupid. Hall is an elite winger and in the same league as Tavares. I put them all in a group of those players, just a touch below the best in the league, but wouldnt be suprised if both JT and Hall cement themselves in that group after next season.
- pbrsimps

Good post

You're a Toronto fan... you don't know what great hockey is!!!

You probably think Kessel is better than both of them!!!
- jimmc7722

*Yawn*

So was Thomas Hickey, Matt Carkner & Radek Martinek. Actually the bolded point makes my point which is it's tough to call the Isles defense 'better' than much of anything when slotting an AHL caliber guy like A-Mac as a top four. As for Streit, his defense was so awful that we slotted him on the bottom pairing against Pittsburgh.

I definitely agree Hall is unquestionably your best player and on the threshold of being elite, I'm just not so sure he's quite as good as JT at all facets of the game.

Xxkeaner17xX
- keaner17

Somehow I feel like if I had begun this by making the claim that the Oilers have a better defense than the Isles, you'd be laughing in my face. But whatever...

We agree on most points here and the main point from an Oilers perspective was simply that it wasn't ridiculous to include Hall in the same breath as JT as some have claimed it is.

- Vukota

I this too.

Doesn't sound like you've seen many Islanders games
MacDonald belongs in the AHL, he's flat out awful. Streit is a defensive liability that had most of us cheering the moment the team decided not to resign him. He's also one of the worst dmen I've seen in years at keeping the puck in the offensive zone.
Overall I get what you're saying, and while I do think the Isles are better in terms of overall game, I think the Oilers are unquestionably the more offensively talented of the two. That's the point, having more offensive firepower keeps defenses a bit more honest when focusing on one player. Things will change for the Isles once Strome is in the mix, but right now, it's JT and a team full of third line players.


Xxkeaner17xX
- keaner17

Islanders D was definitely better than the Oilers... My brother in law's favorite team is the Islanders, and I basically watched every game they played last season... As bad as you think the Islanders D was, the Oilers were that much worse.

Islanders D was definitely better than the Oilers... My brother in law's favorite team is the Islanders, and I basically watched every game they played last season... As bad as you think the Islanders D was, the Oilers were that much worse.
- laughs2907

Your Brother in law Rocks!!


XxNYIxX

Your Brother in law Rocks!!


XxNYIxX
- XxNYIxX

He represents 50% of Islander fans from Newfoundland.

I would say Hall is more physically dominating. Though Tavares might be harder to contain if you know what i mean? Like Hall will sometimes pull an Ovi and skate through people, where I think Tavares is stronger along the boards.

As for who I think is better, its kind of a bad comparison. One, your comparing a center to a winger, and I just about always give the edge to a center. And two, Hall has played one less season.

For those saying Hall had a better season last year: I disagree, sure he had a couple more points. Tavares also had way more goals (idk what you say, goals are harder to get than assists). And from watching them, Tavares imo was more dominating. (not to say hall isnt a dominant player)
Also I find Tavares a more complete 2-way player, but as a center he kind of has to be.

For those saying Hall isnt even close to being as good as Tavares: Get a grip on reality. Watch an oilers game for once. Hall can take over a game almost as well as anyone in the league. I think next season he will make alot of people look stupid. Hall is an elite winger and in the same league as Tavares. I put them all in a group of those players, just a touch below the best in the league, but wouldnt be suprised if both JT and Hall cement themselves in that group after next season.
- pbrsimps

Couldn't have said it better myself. I am a HUGE Hall fan but I will say that Tavares is better. However, to suggest they are in different leagues is incredibly biased to Tavares. I agree that you can't look at just the stats, but you can't completely ignore them. And the playoffs argument holds no weight at all. That just shows who plays on the better team.

I say wait until they're 24/25 before we start comparing them, after all, everybody has a different learning curve.

I'm not an Oilers fan, and I'd take JT over Hall. I'm just saying they are very comparable players and trying to say Hall isn't on JT's level is pretty stupid.
- FinAddict

Well put, I'm essentially in the same boat.

Couldn't have said it better myself. I am a HUGE Hall fan but I will say that Tavares is better. However, to suggest they are in different leagues is incredibly biased to Tavares. I agree that you can't look at just the stats, but you can't completely ignore them. And the playoffs argument holds no weight at all. That just shows who plays on the better team.

I say wait until they're 24/25 before we start comparing them, after all, everybody has a different learning curve.
- TomKlassen

I'm really hoping both of them make Team Canada in a prominent role. Maybe play together? That would be sweet.

I'm really hoping both of them make Team Canada in a prominent role. Maybe play together? That would be sweet.
- pbrsimps

I liked Frenchies top line.


Hall - Crosby - Tavares

I liked Frenchies top line.


Hall - Crosby - Tavares
- robin_steele264

Why play Crosby on the 3rd line?

Somehow I feel like if I had begun this by making the claim that the Oilers have a better defense than the Isles, you'd be laughing in my face. But whatever...

We agree on most points here and the main point from an Oilers perspective was simply that it wasn't ridiculous to include Hall in the same breath as JT as some have claimed it is.
- Morris

I couldn't laugh at anyone who claimed to have a better defense than us

Xxkeaner17xX

He represents 50% of Islander fans from Newfoundland.
- laughs2907

And for that.. we thank him!!


XxNYIxX

Good post
- laughs2907

pfffft, what do you know. You are just a stupid kid, probably in his twenties, that will use facts to dispute others opinions. You don't belong here. Go back to yer twitter and gossip girl and what have you.