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
- Upstate_isles

Good post. Spot on!

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

GA might not be the best metric since the north teams have played more games than almost any other team, G/GP is probably better.

that being said, Ott and Van are clearly giving up significantly more goals than anyone else.....but saying Edm has given up more than SJ is misleading, since they've given up 4 more goals total, but also played 4 more games.

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

Matthews scores goals


Its not even close
- Blockhead

Except that Matthews has 11 assists.

Hard not to argue that Matthews isn't leading the Leafs this year. Looks to me like he's pretty much putting them on his back the last couple of games.

McDavid has more talent, no doubt. It can be argued that Matthews is the better 200 foot player.

Nobody touches McDavid and his talent level. However, to claim that the MVP race this year isn't even close is pretty out of touch.

I don't get how some people can say this isn't debatable (for MVP this season)? Of course it is, they're both having incredible seasons. Right now it's neck and neck.

LETS SEE I AM NOT SURE MATHEWS IS THE BEST PLAYER ON HIS TEAM WHERE WOULD HE BE WITHOUT MARINER SAME CAN BE SAID FOR MCDAVID .
ALL THE CANADIAN PRESS SEE IS THE NORTHERN DIVISION . IN THE LAND OF THE BLIND THE ONE EYED MAN IS KING. THIS DIVISION NO ONE PLAYS A DEFENSIVE TYPE OF GAME . WHEN IT COMES PLAYOFF TIME WHAT HAPPENS TO THIS TEAMS THEY LOSE .
- Ging72

Once knew a house framer who was high on crystal meth all the time and routinely sent nails into his hand.

This is how I imagine his brain.

You're right, people always forget that. But if you removed AM from the Leafs they'd still be good (what with 5 other all-stars on the team) whereas if you took McD off EDM they'd be terrible. McD is "most valuable" to his team by a mile.

I believe the answer is Pat Kane. I honestly can't think of anyone more valuable to his team right now than him.

I think it's dumb that they are going to do an award season and award a player who only played within its division. Each division has its own story and if you want to do awards then do it by each division. Mvp, Norris, adams and etc.

McDavid makes everyone on his team a better player period.draisatl doesnt make McDavid better.
Matthew's hasnt even been the top point producer on his team once in his career.without Marner he isnt the same player in my opinion.

So for the question posed here mcdavid is the mvp over matthews.i dont think either is the nhl mvp,they both have help on their respective teams.kopitar,kane are far more important to their respective teams.

Neither.

As much as I love Matthews, the is no one who matches McDavid plain and simple.

McDavid is the MVP. He has Drai and that's about it. Nurse is having good year, but is not elite. Matthews is on a scorching goal scoring pace. If he continues to dominate and McDavid falters a bit, maybe we can entertain Matthews. However it's McDavid.

Why doesn't anyone acknowledge how unbelievably good Mitch Marner has been this year for the Leafs? Has anyone seen the feeds he's giving Matthews? He's setting up Matthews, who still has to shoot the puck with his unbelievable release, to where Matthews isn't scoring those goals without Marner.

I think Marner has been the Leafs best player, not Matthews, to that point, Matthews isn't going to win any Hart Trophy races finishing second on his own team in scoring...that's a fact!

I'm just glad EK has stopped making up rumors and is instead asking rhetorical questions to generate clicks

I think matthews has really started to push himsekf into the concersation as best player on the planet. His goal scoring is best in the league right now and hes a solid two way player. Nathan mackinnon certainly can make an argument too. I think its between those 2.

GA might not be the best metric since the north teams have played more games than almost any other team, G/GP is probably better.

that being said, Ott and Van are clearly giving up significantly more goals than anyone else.....but saying Edm has given up more than SJ is misleading, since they've given up 4 more goals total, but also played 4 more games.
- sensarmy_11

True - but at this point in time they've given up a lot of goals, which contributes to the prolific goal-scoring in the North.

Now it's not just the team defense contributing. The scorers are very good and would be scoring at a good pace no matter what division they were in. I just think they are benefiting somewhat from the division they are currently in.

I think matthews has really started to push himsekf into the concersation as best player on the planet. His goal scoring is best in the league right now and hes a solid two way player. Nathan mackinnon certainly can make an argument too. I think its between those 2.
- prock

So you're not gonna include the player at the top of the leaderboard?

Do we usually have MVP debates 4 weeks into the season? How #[%*in stupid is this?

So you're not gonna include the player at the top of the leaderboard?

- Nasty_Duck

Leaf fans only know what the toronto based media tells them,and they(media)are biggest homers ever.
There is no denying Matthew's is playing the best he has in his career to this point.strong positioning,great shot, better 2way game than hes ever had,but having said all that.he still isnt in the same class as McDavid.

I think matthews has really started to push himsekf into the concersation as best player on the planet. His goal scoring is best in the league right now and hes a solid two way player. Nathan mackinnon certainly can make an argument too. I think its between those 2.
- prock

Leaf fans only know what the toronto based media tells them,and they(media)are biggest homers ever.
There is no denying Matthew's is playing the best he has in his career to this point.strong positioning,great shot, better 2way game than hes ever had,but having said all that.he still isnt in the same class as McDavid.
- Dewey8

So far this year he is.

Many posters are viewing through their team-coloured goggles, but it's a lot closer than either is willing to admit.

I think matthews has really started to push himsekf into the concersation as best player on the planet. His goal scoring is best in the league right now and hes a solid two way player. Nathan mackinnon certainly can make an argument too. I think its between those 2.
- prock

We’ve really missed these hot takes from Pr!ck.

Leaf fans only know what the toronto based media tells them,and they(media)are biggest homers ever.
There is no denying Matthew's is playing the best he has in his career to this point.strong positioning,great shot, better 2way game than hes ever had,but having said all that.he still isnt in the same class as McDavid.
- Dewey8

Aren't you the same guy that said Kopitar for MVP?

You, a Kings fan, calling for a Kings player to be MVP calling out someone else for being a homer?

Aren't you the same guy that said Kopitar for MVP?

You, a Kings fan, calling for a Kings player to be MVP calling out someone else for being a homer?
- Kinger34

I also posted kane should be mvp.the award is supposed to go to the most valuable player to their team,not the best player in the league or the best goal scorer in the league.
Kopitars numbers make him an mvp candidate as do kanes,in the words of the award.call me a homer if u want,but I answered the question as I read it.

Do we usually have MVP debates 4 weeks into the season? How #
- BringNYIhome[%*in stupid is this?

Do you think made up rumours are any better?