Honestly I don't see any issues with Laine. I know he's ugly as f (rank) and is not overly charismatic due to language barrier but on the ice the guy is unreal. From just watching highlights with no other insight I take him all day over matthews but when you take into account position and defensive play I'm convinced Matthews is the guy.
- HealthyScratch6

They won't be basing the selection off this one tournament I would hope. Especially when Nigel Dawes is also having such a great Worlds.. I'm sure Leafs have done alot of scouting on the two, while I'd be surprised to see them take Laine I won't be upset haha he's got great skills from the few games I've seen.

They won't be basing the selection off this one tournament I would hope. Especially when Nigel Dawes is also having such a great Worlds.. I'm sure Leafs have done alot of scouting on the two, while I'd be surprised to see them take Laine I won't be upset haha he's got great skills from the few games I've seen.
- ClarksonDavid

Yeah after last year's draft I give hunter and Co the benefit of the doubt till they prove me wrong. I'm confident they've seen these guys live enough that they'll pick the best of the two.

Get Estrada off the mound FFS.
- sloppyseconds2

pitched a great game.......

Me neither. Mathews is also have a pretty great tournament all things considered really.. both kids are doing very well at such a young age at that tournament. Laine has more points but he's also got to play with Barkov and his skating is not so pretty. Mathews looks very much more complete but Laine is very dynamic in the offensive zone
- ClarksonDavid

Matthews does the intangible things. Even when he is just circling in the zone without the pick there's a clear method there you can't teach. He's always putting himself in a position to pounce.

Defensively he might be even better. I was saying earlier about Datsyuk being fun to watch doing much of the same things. Kid is gonna be a solid NHLer if not a star.

It is a shame. One of the most exciting players to play the game. An old roommate of mine was a big wings fan so I watched all their games for a couple years and he would do something amazing every game that you would of haD to had played the game to really appreciate how difficult the things he was making look easy really were.
- HealthyScratch6

Watching him strip guys without even having to touch them was always a pleasure. Just so sneaky. I'm no wings fan but I'd watch.

Kinda like watching Mogilny skate. Even late in his career. If he had that swagger in the warm up... Lights out. If you didn't notice him in the first period.... He was invisible. But man what a pleasure to watch when he was motivated. I typically hate players of his kind. My grandfather came from England in the 40's and had never seen hockey before. The moment he saw a pro hockey game he said it was the greatest sport in the world. Because of its raw skill and grace. I never got to see Bobby Orr play but the moment I saw Mogilny I had that same moment. I played a lot until I had a pretty horrific injury. I'd seen guys who had skill lots of times. When you see a guy who can do it better than the rest of the world and make it look effortless, it's awe inspiring. I think hockey players do that the best. Why it's not recognized by more people as one of the (or the) greatest sports is a mystery to me.

Watching him strip guys without even having to touch them was always a pleasure. Just so sneaky. I'm no wings fan but I'd watch.

Kinda like watching Mogilny skate. Even late in his career. If he had that swagger in the warm up... Lights out. If you didn't notice him in the first period.... He was invisible. But man what a pleasure to watch when he was motivated. I typically hate players of his kind. My grandfather came from England in the 40's and had never seen hockey before. The moment he saw a pro hockey game he said it was the greatest sport in the world. Because of its raw skill and grace. I never got to see Bobby Orr play but the moment I saw Mogilny I had that same moment. I played a lot until I had a pretty horrific injury. I'd seen guys who had skill lots of times. When you see a guy who can do it better than the rest of the world and make it look effortless, it's awe inspiring. I think hockey players do that the best. Why it's not recognized by more people as one of the (or the) greatest sports is a mystery to me.
- Seanook

The 'Gull wishes to have this power also....

The 'Gull wishes to have this power also....
- lumlums

The 'Gull wishes to have this power also....
- lumlums

Oh, you suck.





But, yeah, I do.

Bust.

https://www.thestar.com/s...to-step-up-in-game-7.html

And why the frank are we giving Matt Frattin ice time?

Bust.

https://www.thestar.com/s...to-step-up-in-game-7.html

And why the frank are we giving Matt Frattin ice time?
- Atomic Wedgie

I'd rather see linberg or the goat. Frattin sucks

pitched a great game.......
- Cherry--Skoal

smoak is hitting .300

Bust.

https://www.thestar.com/s...to-step-up-in-game-7.html

And why the frank are we giving Matt Frattin ice time?
- Atomic Wedgie

Sosh was hurt.

Way too much emphasis is being placed on Matthews' bona fides coming into the tournament. Fact is he has been outscored and outplayed by the Finish Flash. Toronto Sports Network has panicked. They have way too much invested in Matthews and they are trying to answer questions nobody else appears to be asking.

Not unlike the Taylor/Tyler debate of a few years ago. The consensus was that Taylor was the better player.....but, you all know the story.
- spatso

- gravyface

love that the laine vs matthews debate only really existed the day the leafs won the lottery

- gravyface

love that the laine vs matthews debate only really existed the day the leafs won the lottery
- daeth

It's not even really a fair debate though: Matthews is a center. If you had to choose between Kane or Toews, noone in their right mind would choose Kane, despite what the leaderboard says.

They won't be basing the selection off this one tournament I would hope. Especially when Nigel Dawes is also having such a great Worlds.. I'm sure Leafs have done alot of scouting on the two, while I'd be surprised to see them take Laine I won't be upset haha he's got great skills from the few games I've seen.
- ClarksonDavid

Mcdavid is yet to score. But are we saying lets pick Laine over Mcdavid?

Secondly Mathews is having a better tournament then Laine....it's not all about points

It's not even really a fair debate though: Matthews is a center. If you had to choose between Kane or Toews, noone in their right mind would choose Kane, despite what the leaderboard says.
- gravyface

I'd take Kane.

love that the laine vs matthews debate only really existed the day the leafs won the lottery
- daeth

Just before the draft Mackenzie says Matthews 80% to go 1st, no all of a sudden it's a debate.


Matthews being outplayed, yet it was widely agreed that laine wasn't very good against USA lined up against Matthews.

Can't wait till the leafs call Matthews name on June 24, really hoping I can be there in the building.

love that the laine vs matthews debate only really existed the day the leafs won the lottery
- daeth

It's because every hater knows Mathews will be the pick cause he's better. Therefore they act as he is already a leaf and try to say Laine is better

Just before the draft Mackenzie says Matthews 80% to go 1st, no all of a sudden it's a debate.


Matthews being outplayed, yet it was widely agreed that laine wasn't very good against USA lined up against Matthews.

Can't wait till the leafs call Matthews name on June 24, really hoping I can be there in the building.
- burn

When Kessle led the tournament in the Olympics in points he sucked because he only scored against bad teams and was invisible against the goods. Very similar situation...

It's because every hater knows Mathews will be the pick cause he's better. Therefore they act as he is already a leaf and try to say Laine is better
- Santo_44

It's hilarious.

When Kessle led the tournament in the Olympics in points he sucked because he only scored against bad teams and was invisible against the goods. Very similar situation...
- Santo_44

LEafs

Read the hfboards crap if you're bored and want a chuckle.

http://hfboards.hockeysfu.../showthread.php?t=2076905

Look at the "neutral fan" votes lol. The butthurt is strong. Legitimately the only neutral fans in this debate are Leafs fans since the Leafs are the only team that has 100% control over who they pick.

I'd take Kane.
- daeth

Totes bra