In my opinion it depends on how you look at it.

Growing up I always looked at Gretzky/Lemieux as the most talented players in the league but Yzerman/Messier as the ‘best hockey players’. I always looked at all around skill sets. Offence, defence, speed, shot, physicality, leadership (at least perceived), durability, etc. So like a 200ft game in a way.

Not a fan of Oil or Leafs and don’t think either is the best hockey player in the league. But in between the two despite McDavid being insanely fast and skilled with puck, I think Matthews is a bit more complete.
- Big23Questions

Matthews is very very (could easily add 10 more very's here) easily the best player on the Leafs, regardless of Marner putting up good point totals.

And I don't think anyone is arguing that McJesus is better than literally everyone.
- GreatGigInTheSky

None of us have ever seen a player of McDavid's caliber.

Pfffffffffft. Marchand could lick all of the aforementioned players. Crosby and Pat Kane included.
- shoreorrpark

Will Sorokin get any Hart votes this year? Or is the Calder and Vezina enough for one year?

Will Gaudreau win the scoring title?

Will Vegas miss the playoffs?

Will Columbus win their division?

Will the Buzztron break .500?

More to come...
- Kooleus

Will the Buzztron successfully be able to add up to 82?

None of us have ever seen a player of McDavid's caliber.
- Aetherial

This. He is the best ever. His total points at the end of his career likely don’t come close to Gretzky but that’s not the point.

i'll take McDavid.

Matthews has the best shot in the game, and that's pretty much how he's scored the vast majority of his goals......not moving, hit with a nice pass, and blasts it past the goalie. he doesn't have near the same skill as McDavid.

Matthews reminds me a lot of Brett Hull.....who was obviosuly a great player, but scored the majority of his goals from sitting in the slot waiting for the one timer.

i still think Matthews is a top 5 player in the league, but Mcdavid is just in a league all his own.....nobody can do what he does
- sensarmy_11

yes

This. He is the best ever. His total points at the end of his career likely don’t come close to Gretzky but that’s not the point.
- TurdFergeson

I honestly don't know how anyone can watch him play and not see that there has never been anyone like him. The guy has his own highlight reel every game. It never ends. He makes his peers look incompetent pretty much every night. Nobody else has ever done that.

I would put Barzal and Point right behind those already mentioned.

Anyone not saying Matthews doesn’t watch hockey or is a homer it’s not even close. This season so far anyways

I would put Barzal and Point right behind those already mentioned.
- sjfpp

Guys not even in the top 30?

They aren’t even close. Guys like MacKinnon, Sheifele, Kane, Stone, even Huberdeau and others well ahead of Barzal or Point in MVP talks at this point.

McDavid is the answer, but just slightly. I watch more of Matthews and he is a huge part of the Leafs success, but still isn't McJesus. McJesus is on his own level. If he played in the same Era as Gretzky and Lemieux he would have the same, if not more point totals. He makes everything look so easy, its like he doesn't have to think about it. Matthew's is almost there, he's looked sensational this year, just not McJesus level.

Matthew's, I really don't see how this is even up for debate
- gonch

Why do you even say this? How is it NOT debatable?

One has 37 pts in 20 games and the other has 18 goals in 18 games. How is that a not close?

I like how people just label the Canadian division as being poor defensively. Without any evidence to support that. But you read this 5 or 6 times and suddenly its now considered fact. Such lazy analysis.

Want some facts?

Ottawa is giving up over 4 goals per game. By far the worst.

#2 is out West in San Jose. Then Vancouver. So that's 2 North teams.

Then look. We have 3 Central teams in Detroit, Nashville, and Columbus. So is anyone talking about teams like Tampa and Carolina can feast on these defensive disasters? Tampa and Carolina have more goals per game than Edmonton. I would also mention Chicago being in this division giving up more shots per game than anyone in the NHL. Once their goaltending cools off, expect them to be among one of the poorest defensive teams as well.

The bottom 8 also includes Pittsburgh and Washington. Buffalo and Philly aren't far behind. So where are all the people saying guys like Ovechkin, Crosby, Pastrnak get to feast within the porous defense of the East division?

This whole thing is an exaggeration. There are some weak Canadian teams. But there are some awful defensive teams scattered throughout the other divisions. Once you get past McDavid and Matthews torching teams, the North isn't actually that wide open. Maybe Ek can write an article on this since I'm just sharing views as a fan.


- Kooleus

SJ has given up 58 goals. There are 3 teams in North that have given up more goals than SJ.

The placements change daily, but recently the North had 3 in top-10 of most goals allowed, including the top 2.

As of last nights games North had worst overall GAA of 3.14.

Of course the good scorers in North Division will have a lot of goals. Part of that is the overall defense of the opposition, and part of it is due to number of games. No missed games due to covid, unlike the other divisions. Pastrnak has yet to "feast on Buffalo" as they have not played yet.

SJ has given up 58 goals. There are 3 teams in North that have given up more goals than SJ.

The placements change daily, but recently the North had 3 in top-10 of most goals allowed, including the top 2.

As of last nights games North had worst overall GAA of 3.14.

Of course the good scorers in North Division will have a lot of goals. Part of that is the overall defense of the opposition, and part of it is due to number of games. No missed games due to covid, unlike the other divisions. Pastrnak has yet to "feast on Buffalo" as they have not played yet.
- Nasty_Duck

Try again and look at goals against per game. San Jose has played fewer games than anyone in the North. In some cases...5 fewer games. Sigh.

Try again and look at goals against per game. San Jose has played fewer games than anyone in the North. In some cases...5 fewer games. Sigh.
- Kooleus

North overall has highest GAA AND more goals overall. How you think they are scoring so many? It's a LOT of games versus some teams that can't keep the puck out of the net.

50 in 50 is absolutely elite and an amazing feat and yet McDavid does things that no one has ever done at the speed he does it. Better player has to be McDavid and not by much, as for mvp it will depend on how the teams finish honestly. If you absolutely had to choose one it would be McDavid but its a really close call

Zac Rinaldo

Captain Underpants really isn't even in the conversation.


McDavid, MacKinnon, Draisaitl,

How many goals and points would Draisaitl have if he got to play with Marner instead of the diminutive Yamamoto, and a no-name in Kahun.
- patenaude

Draisaitl gets all his points from McDavid,are we going to act like he doesn't play major minutes with McDavid? Let's see if some stats guru can post some #'s here. On the topic, Yeah McDavid is more valuable to his team but take Matthew's and his exceptional play away from the Leafs this year and they wouldn't be sitting so pretty

Draisaitl gets all his points from McDavid,are we going to act like he doesn't play major minutes with McDavid? Let's see if some stats guru can post some #'s here. On the topic, Yeah McDavid is more valuable to his team but take Matthew's and his exceptional play away from the Leafs this year and they wouldn't be sitting so pretty
- kkvslayer

Drai plays pp with McDavid but not regular shift.

Drai plays pp with McDavid but not not regular shift.
- TurdFergeson

I would be willing to bet they get at least 5 minutes a night 5 v 5.

This is a solid take and a good argument, the only issue is I don't expect the Leafs to continue playing this well the entire season. If the Leafs crush the entire league after 56 games, then I agree, and you give Matthews the Hart.

But, I think the Leafs will come back down to Earth a little bit and McDavid will keep a horrible Oilers team in the playoffs...and McDavid will win the MVP.
- W_1

Ya. I don’t get all this talk about the Leafs being such a superior team. They are no better than the Oil. They both have a good top six, meh bottom six and questionable defence. In fact, there’s virtually no difference between the top five teams in the division. All of them are middling teams.

I would be willing to bet they get at least 5 minutes a night 5 v 5.
- kkvslayer

McDavid and Drai have played roughly 32 minutes 11 seconds together at 5v5 all season according to dobbersports.
Leon - CMD - Yamo = 14:20
Leon - CMD - Puljujarvi = 13:59
Archibald - Leon - CMD = 3:52

32 minutes divided by 20 games equals less than 2 minutes per game at 5v5. You sure you are willing to bet? I'll take that action.

McDavid scores goals, sets up goals and leads his team.

Matthews scores goals


Its not even close

Anyone that has watched a bunch of games among the North division teams can see it. It’s a very very weak division.
- TurdFergeson

Anyone who reads this can see it's a very, very weak take.

Neither just river hockey stats great players yes hut skewed