As much as I'm down on the Leafs and not really sure if they'll make the playoffs, last night was one of the most bad ass games I've seen them play.

Gritty, snotty and not taking poop. When Dallas tied it up, Matthews and Marner came on the ice with a "(frank) this, we'll show you (frank)ers" attitude and scored almost immediately.

The 3rd Period was some of the best hockey I've seen them play. Hard nosed and ballsy. (frank)ing Marner even thru a nice hit at one point. McCabe and Beniot were beastly.

Gotta give credit where credit is due. If they could play like that 80% of the time, (frank) I would love the Leafs. That was some good hockey last night. Might rewatch the game.


(frank) Keefe.

Drug addicts have taken over all of our towns and cities. They destroy businesses and put fear into the people. Maybe we need a purge.
- shack67

And those are just the ones in public office!

And those are just the ones in public office!
- Zezel

In this era I don’t think anyone comes close to McDavid. Cups and gold medals are team accomplishments imo.
- shack67

agree with all this.
the average hockey fan probably wont think that way. You hear, he never won a cup all the time.
in Basketball it makes sense to compare championships where Jordan/Lebron can play 99% of all minutes.
but a Mcdavid can only do so much playing 35% of the game

agree with all this.
the average hockey fan probably wont think that way. You hear, he never won a cup all the time.
in Basketball it makes sense to compare championships where Jordan/Lebron can play 99% of all minutes.
but a Mcdavid can only do so much playing 35% of the game
- senstroll

For me Matthews over McDavid all day.

I get it, McD is fast as (frank) and great skill at high speed, better than anyone else ever but Matthews as a Power Center has so many more elements to his game that make him an all-round better player IMHO.

I'm going to hazard a guess and say that none of us saw or really remembers seeing Howe in his prime. We know he's synonymous with greatness, the Gordie-Howe-Hatrick, throwing elbows and so on. If you look at a single season and say, "In that season how much better was this player than the next closest player in points?" - only 17 times has the top scorer been 20% or more ahead of the next closest. Gordie Howe owns 3 of those.

I mention that because I never equated Howe with being among the greatest players - only his longevity, dedication to the game, and being a pretty good player. But he was dominant in his day. There are kids today who already think Ovechkin is better than Gretzky ever was because it was so much easier to score in Gretzky's era. The concept of, "Then why was everyone just going and scoring 92 goals?" isn't a question they want to deal with.

But as generations pass and people who _saw_ the player start to fade away all that's left is the record book and some video evidence - neither of which can do justice to what the player really was in that moment in that time.

So with that blather said - if Matthews succeeds in owning one of the greatest and hardest to break records in hockey history and McDavid never possesses anything that sets him at the top of a list, then yes - people will remember Matthews as better than McDavid - whether it was ever true or not.
- Monkeypunk

Thanks you for your thoughtful response.

I enjoyed it.

If Matthews breaks Gretz’s goals record, beats Canada for a gold medal, and wins a cup, would he be condsidered a better player than McDavid after all is said and done?

Assuming McDavid never wins a cup/gold medal.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

Mcd is on another level compared to matthews right now.
Winning cups and gold medals are a team thing, only so much 1 player can do.
However, does matthews win the cup with Toronto and does he dominate while doing so?
Cause if i get to see the leafs win a cup, ill deem whoever helped win it the greatest player.
Reaves scores the cup winning goal? He becomes the best ever.
Lol

I guess it depends on what McDavid accomplishes outside of cup....individual accomplishments etc.

In this era I don’t think anyone comes close to McDavid. Cups and gold medals are team accomplishments imo.
- shack67

I think that’s just the way sports are.


The champion factor.


You can’t be called one until you win a championship. There’s nothing people like more than a champion.

i think the order then would go

1 - Marner
2 - Matthews
3 - Mcdavid
- senstroll

For me Matthews over McDavid all day.

I get it, McD is fast as (frank) and great skill at high speed, better than anyone else ever but Matthews as a Power Center has so many more elements to his game that make him an all-round better player IMHO.
- underhill14

All I’ll say is this..


I wouldn’t trade Matthews for anyone in the league.

Mcd is on another level compared to matthews right now.
Winning cups and gold medals are a team thing, only so much 1 player can do.
However, does matthews win the cup with Toronto and does he dominate while doing so?
Cause if i get to see the leafs win a cup, ill deem whoever helped win it the greatest player.
Reaves scores the cup winning goal? He becomes the best ever.
Lol

I guess it depends on what McDavid accomplishes outside of cup....individual accomplishments etc.
- Fakepartofme

I feel like Hector was probably the better athlete, but Achilles gets all the glory because his side won the war.

All I’ll say is this..


I wouldn’t trade Matthews for anyone in the league.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

Mcdavid would be it for me.

Although i could be talked into mackinnon, a 1st and a prospect or MacKinnon and toews

Mcdavid would be it for me.

Although i could be talked into mackinnon, a 1st and a prospect or MacKinnon and toews
- Fakepartofme

I kinda find MacKinnon is right in between McD and Matthews when it comes to style of play...almost the same amount of speed as McD but a lot of the same skill as Matthews.

MacKinnon is one of my favorites for sure. He definitely has more grit and determination on a night in/night out basis. And I love McD too.

Matthews is my favorite all time...and he's a Leaf so that helps.

All I’ll say is this..


I wouldn’t trade Matthews for anyone in the league.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

McDavid
Makar

That’s it

Drug addicts have taken over all of our towns and cities. They destroy businesses and put fear into the people. Maybe we need a purge.
- shack67

i was told free drugs is the answer

i think the order then would go

1 - Marner
2 - Matthews
3 - Mcdavid
- senstroll

For me Matthews over McDavid all day.

I get it, McD is fast as (frank) and great skill at high speed, better than anyone else ever but Matthews as a Power Center has so many more elements to his game that make him an all-round better player IMHO.
- underhill14

Core 5 >>> Core 4

If Matthews breaks Gretz’s goals record, beats Canada for a gold medal, and wins a cup, would he be condsidered a better player than McDavid after all is said and done?

Assuming McDavid never wins a cup/gold medal.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

Maybe. People don't think OV is generational at all and he'll likely (maybe) pass Gretz in goals, have a Cup, all of the Rocket's and be top-10 in points by the end of it all.

Maybe. People don't think OV is generational at all and he'll likely (maybe) pass Gretz in goals, have a Cup, all of the Rocket's and be top-10 in points by the end of it all.
- AdamFrench

He's certainly a generational goal scorer.

Maybe. People don't think OV is generational at all and he'll likely (maybe) pass Gretz in goals, have a Cup, all of the Rocket's and be top-10 in points by the end of it all.
- AdamFrench

Meh, it's a label. He was arguably one of the top 2 or 3 players on the planet for several years. Many on the all time goal scoring leaders, such as Gartner, Selanne and Robitaile for example were never in the top five players in the league during their careers. IMO Bossy at #23 was the greatest pure goal scorer, it shouldn't be held against him that he only played 10 seasons.

Marchment got a $5k fine for the late blindside hit on McCabe. I'll say this, at least the officials and that POS Parros are consistent with their Leaf hate.

Shoulda been a Leaf

https://x.com/morbidful/s...&t=zXygQ9RZlVYvHUlIXsYVmg

I had no clue this was the case and it most certainly wasn't reported by the sports media who had been gushing about the Oilers streak while lamenting the Leafs not wining enough games in regulation. lol

Had it been the Leafs streak and not the Oiilers I'm sure some super awesome hockey talkers would have come here to point this out to everyone many times over.




- Cush29

Not to mention OT wins

Not to mention OT wins
- jribout

2 OT wins (DET, MTL)
1 SO win (LAK)

2 OT wins (DET, MTL)
1 SO win (LAK)
- mjones242

Which again takes some of the shine off an otherwise impressive streak.