He's closer to Kessel than he is to Crosby right now.

Like a step up from Kessel but a step below Crosby / Ovehckin / Malkin / McDavid.
- JohnFergusonJr

And Eichel

60 goals and 100 points? Not yet, sorry.

And when we're talking Crosby and McDavid, we're talking 120 points and playoff success (Crosby).

He's not Ovechkin either. Ovechkin scored more goals in his first four seasons. He also hit like a truck and rarely missed a game. More points too. Ovechkin AVERAGED 50 goals a season. Matthews hasn't hit it once yet.

Better than Kessel but still below the true generational talents.
- JohnFergusonJr

Read what I wrote, with actual reading. I'm agreeing.

What a stupid comment
- PlatosRepucklic

do you know what elite means? elite to me means you are a can't miss prospect who is drafted top 5 or 10, not 29th overall.

Why would Vegas give up that much for 3 months of Barrie?
- gamerdoc

That's generally the going price for someone of his caliber. Look at what some of the other rental defense got in return.

His team wins games. That’s what they are paid to do. I’ll take AM at 30 goals if the teams a winner all day
- aminnes

His team was winning games before he arrived.

That doesn't prove he's not good LOL
- RogerRoeper

You said elite. The word elite loses it's meaning if everybody is elite. Elite means, the select few who are at the top of their class. Sandin is not at the top of his class in any regard. Offensively, there are guys who put up more points. Defensively, he's not even close. Overall, there are more highly regarded, truly elite D prospects and Sandin isn't one of them. He's a good 2nd pair offensive D which size issues and defensive issues. That's not elite. Doesn't mean he sucks, just means he's not as good as you think he is.

60 goals and 100 points? Not yet, sorry.

And when we're talking Crosby and McDavid, we're talking 120 points and playoff success (Crosby).

He's not Ovechkin either. Ovechkin scored more goals in his first four seasons. He also hit like a truck and rarely missed a game. More points too. Ovechkin AVERAGED 50 goals a season. Matthews hasn't hit it once yet.

Better than Kessel but still below the true generational talents.
- JohnFergusonJr

Matthews has more 5v5 goals than any player in the league since he started playing.

He's a generational talent that hasn't even hit his prime yet.

elite d prospects are drafted 29th overall now?
- ghetto puck

What the hell is this argument?

You said elite. The word elite loses it's meaning if everybody is elite. Elite means, the select few who are at the top of their class. Sandin is not at the top of his class in any regard. Offensively, there are guys who put up more points. Defensively, he's not even close. Overall, there are more highly regarded, truly elite D prospects and Sandin isn't one of them. He's a good 2nd pair offensive D which size issues and defensive issues. That's not elite. Doesn't mean he sucks, just means he's not as good as you think he is.
- JohnFergusonJr

Sandin is elite. Everone thinks so. He proved it at the worlds and oin the Marlies

His team was winning games before he arrived.
- RogerRoeper

And the Leafs and Avs have both won pretty much the same recently, a lot of regular season games.

Matthews has more 5v5 goals than any player in the league since he started playing.

He's a generational talent that hasn't even hit his prime yet.
- mjones242

at what age do you expect him to hit his prime?

do you know what elite means? elite to me means you are a can't miss prospect who is drafted top 5 or 10, not 29th overall.
- ghetto puck

Draft position has nothing to do with a prospects status after the draft. Letang. Weber, Josi, Keith, Subban. Some of the better defencemen of the past decade or so and all drafted in the second round or later. Not elite?

It is incredibly ignorant to just look at draft position to determine a players value.

the leafs are weak at left wing and hyman is a right shot playing left wing who should be playing right wing who converted from having played centre most of his hockey life. tavares is getting older and wasn't the strongest skater to begin with, i think he would be better suited for this team as currently constructed coming off the left wing. i also think nylander should be playing centre not either wing, usually guys with size or snipers are best playing the wings.
- ghetto puck

I agree that the Leafs are weak at LW. What I don't agree with is playing an elite C at LW just because you're weak at that position.

Just stop.

Matthews has more 5v5 goals than any player in the league since he started playing.

He's a generational talent that hasn't even hit his prime yet.
- mjones242

Nah, not really. That's McDavid.

Hell, even Draisaitl is better in this generation of players.

at what age do you expect him to hit his prime?
- ghetto puck

25(ish).

Sandin is elite. Everone thinks so. He proved it at the worlds and oin the Marlies
- RogerRoeper

Sandin is elite. Everone thinks so. He proved it at the worlds and oin the Marlies
- RogerRoeper

Sandin is a good prospect, no more.

Nah, not really. That's McDavid.

Hell, even Draisaitl is better in this generation of players.
- JohnFergusonJr

Yeah, really.

McDavid is in a league of his own.

Matthews > Draisaitl. Perhaps you missed the 5v5 goals comment? Pretty impressive numbers Matthews has put up while playing the majority of his career with neutered minutes under a tyrant coach.

What the hell is this argument?
- RogerRoeper

Has this guy not looked at the NHL and seen who the top defense are and where they were drafted? Josi drafted 38th, Shea Weber drafted 49th overall, Kris Letang drafted 62nd overall. Lots of defense drafted late

Yeah, really.

McDavid is in a league of his own.

Matthews > Draisaitl. Perhaps you missed the 5v5 goals comment? Pretty impressive numbers Matthews has put up while playing the majority of his career with neutered minutes under a tyrant coach.
- mjones242

not to mention ... how does Nylander or Marner compare to McDavid as a linemate.

Bring on Bogosian.


Why Not!

not to mention ... how does Nylander or Marner compare to McDavid as a linemate.
- Aetherial

Bring on Bogosian.


Why Not!
- Byfuglien Ate Me

He's signing with TB

Nah, not really. That's McDavid.

Hell, even Draisaitl is better in this generation of players.
- JohnFergusonJr

McDavid is that tier above everyone. I think it's fair to say Matthews could be one of the best players of his era if he stays healthy. He's clearly a star, franchise player. Kind of like how there was Gretzky, then guys like Yzerman, Messier, etc. Matthews in his age group is clearly in the very top of players in the world.

Has this guy not looked at the NHL and seen who the top defense are and where they were drafted? Josi drafted 38th, Shea Weber drafted 49th overall, Kris Letang drafted 62nd overall. Lots of defense drafted late
- matt1337

Lukde Schenn was drafted 5th though. ELITE

Griffin Reinhart ELITE