I would be absolutely beside myself with EITHER of those kids. They're both fantastic players already, one is 18 and one is 19, personally I'm extremely jealous.
- LeftCoaster

Yup, not to mention its pretty premature to be calling one significantly better than the other.

Are people really that dumb to not realize the difference between playing on a well rounded roster like WPG vs a bunch of kids and scrubs on the leafs?

Laine is winger as well with way less responsibility playing with Wheeler, Scheifele , Ehlers, Stafford, Little, Perrault, Buff, Enstrom, Trouba, Myers among others.

How many players do the leafs have that are as capable as that group? 2? 3?

Honestly Winnipeg and Ottawa are the only other canadian teams I cheer for to do well. I don't mind Edmonton since they're geographically the closest team to me and I have family and friends who like the Oilers. But the rest of them
- NorthNuck

(frank) the Oilers, I'll cheer for any team before them.

I'm just happy that Winnipeg got the best player of the draft rather than Toronto. I like Winnipeg
- NorthNuck

I'd say that a less than 30 game sample is perhaps too soon to tell
It should be noted though that his Sh% of 21.8% is MUCH higher than anybody else in the league (and higher than he's ever managed) so he'll likely come down to earth with time (for comparison, Stamkos is at 17.1% and Ovie is at 12.4%).

All said and done though, Matthews was the player that TO needed, and he'll show himself in time to be well worthy of being a #1.

What ever happened to trades? It's become endangered.
- bloatedmosquito

Gary has the talent pool so watered down teams just don't want other teams scraps.

And he wants to expand more and get 20 teams in the PO's so he can have his cash-grab expansion fees.

The Bottom 10 teams have one good line the middle ten teams have two decent lines and the top 10 clubs have three decent lines.
After that it's a lot of AHL scraps that no one wants to take risk on.

Plus many teams just don't have tradeable assets. Edler Burrows? Worthless for the most part.

We may get a need filled but it will take Tanev/Hansen/pick/prospect to get that done.

Lots of risk for GM's nowadays.

I think you will get laughter, more than banning.

Leafs fans who watch Matthews night in, night out wouldn't re-do that pick. He is playing center with 2 rookies on his line. Laine is playing wing with 2 all-stars on his line.

Don't get me wrong, Laine looks to be a fantastic talent. He is living up to the Ovechkin comparisons so far.

Matthews is what the Leafs needed though and he is not disappointing. So, whatever people may conclude from watching them, The Leafs made the pick they should have made and I don't think any of us are disappointed
- Aetherial

If I had the first overall pick, even knowing what we know now, I would've taken Matthews. He isnt a flashy player but he is very good and plays a critical position. Hes very good positionally at both ends of the rink and a smart player, I enjoy watching him play

I'd say that a less than 30 game sample is perhaps too soon to tell

That said, Laine has been excellent so far. That said, his Sh% of 21.8% is MUCH higher than anybody else in the league (and higher than he's ever managed) so he'll likely come down to earth with time (for comparison, Stamkos is at 17.1% and Ovie is at 12.4%).

All said and done though, Matthews was the player that TO needed, and he'll show himself in time to be well worthy of being a #1.
- lumlums

I can't argue, I think had Vancouver won the lottery and picked 1st we might be where you guys are now, defending a Matthews pick because a C is what the team really needed.

Honestly Winnipeg and Ottawa are the only other canadian teams I cheer for to do well. I don't mind Edmonton since they're geographically the closest team to me and I have family and friends who like the Oilers. But the rest of them
- NorthNuck

I've always been a closet Jets fan because of my Mom (RIP).

She was devastated when they moved the club to PHX/ARZ and had passed on before they got back to WPG. So it's a bit of an emotional thing for as well.

Go Jets!

I can't argue, I think had Vancouver won the lottery and picked 1st we might be where you guys are now, defending a Matthews pick because a C is what the team really needed.
- NorthNuck

Of course. My personal feeling is that in time Matthews will be the better all-round player purely because of his play on the other side of the puck. If he ends up being comparable to a Bergeron or a Kopitar then I'll be over the moon, especially because they bot have cups while Lainvechkin does not

I can't argue, I think had Vancouver won the lottery and picked 1st we might be where you guys are now, defending a Matthews pick because a C is what the team really needed.
- NorthNuck

and then Toronto fans would be suggesting that Laine is the better player and the world keeps spinning round.

If I had the first overall pick, even knowing what we know now, I would've taken Matthews. He isnt a flashy player but he is very good and plays a critical position. Hes very good positionally at both ends of the rink and a smart player, I enjoy watching him play
- WhiteLie

they are both exceptional talents. either would have been fine but I really thought we had Laine locked up.

they are both exceptional talents. either would have been fine but I really thought we had Laine locked up.
- LordHumungous

I was hoping the Canucks would get the #2 pick so they wouldnt have a choice and couldnt be second-guessed

and then Toronto fans would be suggesting that Laine is the better player and the world keeps spinning round.
- dbot

Yeah pretty much

they are both exceptional talents. either would have been fine but I really thought we had Laine locked up.
- LordHumungous

TBH I'm just happy that Edmonton didn't get Laine... Laine being fed by McDavid ight have caused the league to crash

Of course. My personal feeling is that in time Matthews will be the better all-round player purely because of his play on the other side of the puck. If he ends up being comparable to a Bergeron or a Kopitar then I'll be over the moon, especially because they bot have cups while Lainvechkin does not
- lumlums

Some of the media are already talking about Horvat becoming a comparable to Bergeron, would have thought Matthews would have a higher ceiling?

TBH I'm just happy that Edmonton didn't get Laine... Laine being fed by McDavid ight have caused the league to crash
- lumlums

Boy that would have been fun to watch though.

Gretzky/Kurri?

= McDavid/Laine?

Wow.

I'm not an Oiler fan but that would have been something.

Some of the media are already talking about Horvat becoming a comparable to Bergeron, would have thought Matthews would have a higher ceiling?
- NorthNuck

You've heard of "within experimental error", right???

I think that Matthews has more offensive upsude than Bergeron, but Bergeron is a (frank)ing boss on the defensive side of the game. As much as I hate the Bruins, I could never hate Bergeron... despite his role in "The collapse"

Boy that would have been fun to watch though.

Gretzky/Kurri?

= McDavid/Laine?

Wow.

I'm not an Oiler fan but that would have been something.
- LordHumungous

Yeah, after 7 years of living in Edmonton/Fort Mac I developed almost an, ummm, let's say "lack of dislike" for them... the Laine/McJesus combo might have changed that

i get your enjoyment in the rebuild of the canucks as strange and canucks obsessed as it is, but what does that have to do with a comparison between laine and matthews?
- RealityChecker

The comment was made about his laughing at the article.

Absolutely nothing.
- Marwood

You and reality checker did see what comment I responded to right?

I mean you can read and follow a discussion?

It was crystal (frank)ing clear that my comment was made in response to someone enjoying a good laugh at the article.

It was NOT made in response to the article itself, comparing the two. I don't know how either of you missed that.

Honestly Winnipeg and Ottawa are the only other canadian teams I cheer for to do well. I don't mind Edmonton since they're geographically the closest team to me and I have family and friends who like the Oilers. But the rest of them
- NorthNuck

I also cheer for Winnipeg. Not sure why, but it just seems like they are most underdog team in the country.

You and reality checker did see what comment I responded to right?

I mean you can read and follow a discussion?

It was crystal (frank)ing clear that my comment was made in response to someone enjoying a good laugh at the article.

It was NOT made in response to the article comparing the two. I don't know how either of you miss that.
- Aetherial

- RealityChecker

?

Can't see the image.

(your location ... )

?

Can't see the image.
- Aetherial

Thanks for letting us know.

I also cheer for Winnipeg. Not sure why, but it just seems like they are most underdog team in the country.
- Aetherial

I would say Ottawa might have that title. They seem to get less attention

I would say Ottawa might have that title. They seem to get less attention
- NorthNuck

Yeah, but can't really bring myself to cheer for them though