|
Post by bookboy007 on Nov 10, 2016 13:05:00 GMT
Has Dr. Evil stolen his mojo?
First six games, 6 goals, 4 assists, +1.
Next 7, 0 goals, 1 assist, -6.
Take away that one huge game against the Senioritas, and he has just 2 goals so far. ("2 goals is great production!" - David Krejci)
Meanwhile, Laine is a rock star. 11 goals in 14 games including 5ppg and 2 GWG. 15 points leads all rookies and is 1.07 points/game - almost identical to what McDavid put up last year in terms of p/g.
Meanwhile, the rookie class is doing what we've seen over the last couple of years from young players - kids stepping in and having an immediate impact. Nylander has more points than #Buston and Marner's one point behind, and Tyler Konecny's been really good in Philly. Werenski's a point/game player as a D (!), and Provorov, Skjei, Carlo and Mathesson are all contributing offensively as rookie blueliners.
Right now? Unless the Toronto media goes gooey ballooey and decides #Buston has to be a Calder nominee, there's every chance the kid fades into a really strong rookie class with - as of today - the battle between Laine and Werenski being the one that matters. Nylander, Konecny, Gresey, and rookie TOI and +/- leader Carlo all could slot in ahead of #Buston on the ballot. A lot of players could pass him in terms of first year impact if his current cold streak - and the Laffs getting embarrassed nightly - continues. Hard to tell from the games I've seen if he's as good as he looked embarrassing Karlsson and Andersen, or as ineffective as he looked against LA. But I'm pretty sure Gretz has nothing to worry about in terms of his single season goal record.
|
|
|
Post by UtahGetMeTwo on Nov 10, 2016 15:23:42 GMT
Carlo gets my "homer" vote for rookie of the year. The Bruins might have 3 or 4 loses without him. Vote for arlo!
Is it easier to break into the league as a wing than a center. Matthews is surrounded by Maple Loafs. If Auston were playing wing, being set up for one-timers, scoring on rushes he would have more goals. Laine does't have the same responsibility defensively.
#AmericanNHLprospectbashersAbound
|
|
|
Post by kelvana33 on Nov 10, 2016 17:17:25 GMT
Still early but the Laine kid leads the league in goals.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 10, 2016 18:19:50 GMT
He's no McDavid. Canada Canada.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 10, 2016 23:01:36 GMT
Way to early to be calling the kid Buston! Also, Laine has had the advantage of playing with highly talented players on his line. Matthew's hasn't had that on a game in, game out basis.
|
|
|
Post by mdsizzle on Nov 12, 2016 18:53:32 GMT
He's no McDavid. Canada Canada. True... he'd need to dial back the point production to hit mcdavid level.
|
|
|
Post by bookboy007 on Nov 13, 2016 0:54:35 GMT
Of course he's not a bust, nor do I expect him to be. Blame his parents for making it as easy as switching one letter in his name for #Buston. That and how quickly Laff fans (and USA Hockey's bag man in San Diego) jump to his defense.
But the 4 goal debut had jizz moppers working overtime there as people jumped to compare him to Gretzky, Lemieux etc. So it's highly amusing to me to think if he falls short of those ridiculous expectations, there will be some who think he's disappointing. Especially if he finishes 4th in voting for the Carlo Trophy.
In all seriousness, I think this will be a lot like Taylor/Tyler. The guy who looks great out of the gate will slowly get reeled in by the better overall player the way Hall has been surpassed by Séguin. Both will be great players, but eventually the same argument for why Matthews is slower to dominate will turn and he'll be the more important player because as a centre, he'll influence the game in so many more ways.
Bit of the Crosby v Ovechkin thing, too.
|
|
|
Post by UtahGetMeTwo on Nov 13, 2016 2:05:12 GMT
For the record, I have never delivered a bag to anyone.
A few briefcases, but no bags.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 14, 2016 0:22:10 GMT
Of course he's not a bust, nor do I expect him to be. Blame his parents for making it as easy as switching one letter in his name for #Buston. That and how quickly Laff fans (and USA Hockey's bag man in San Diego) jump to his defense. But the 4 goal debut had jizz moppers working overtime there as people jumped to compare him to Gretzky, Lemieux etc. So it's highly amusing to me to think if he falls short of those ridiculous expectations, there will be some who think he's disappointing. Especially if he finishes 4th in voting for the Carlo Trophy. In all seriousness, I think this will be a lot like Taylor/Tyler. The guy who looks great out of the gate will slowly get reeled in by the better overall player the way Hall has been surpassed by Séguin. Both will be great players, but eventually the same argument for why Matthews is slower to dominate will turn and he'll be the more important player because as a centre, he'll influence the game in so many more ways. Bit of the Crosby v Ovechkin thing, too. After RNH's first game the HNIC bag lappers said "Gretzky's first goal was on the backhand too."
|
|
|
Post by cowboys9 on Nov 14, 2016 1:30:38 GMT
I think a point producing #1 center , which Matthews will be in time will be more valuable than a high flying winger like Liane...Leafs are in a rebuild, Winnipeg is not, so Liane gets to play with better players...
|
|
|
Post by bookboy007 on Nov 14, 2016 2:44:55 GMT
I think a point producing #1 center , which Matthews will be in time will be more valuable than a high flying winger like Liane...Leafs are in a rebuild, Winnipeg is not, so Liane gets to play with better players... Why does everyone act as if the Jets didn't play the lottery? Ehlers, Connor, Lowry, Morrissey, Trouba, HellaBucyk - and Scheifele's one year into being a legit first liner. They have some pieces that are better than Toronto's, but not a lot of them. Laine's not on a line with Toews and Kane here.
|
|
|
Post by cowboys9 on Nov 14, 2016 5:16:04 GMT
I think a point producing #1 center , which Matthews will be in time will be more valuable than a high flying winger like Liane...Leafs are in a rebuild, Winnipeg is not, so Liane gets to play with better players... Why does everyone act as if the Jets didn't play the lottery? Ehlers, Connor, Lowry, Morrissey, Trouba, HellaBucyk - and Scheifele's one year into being a legit first liner. They have some pieces that are better than Toronto's, but not a lot of them. Laine's not on a line with Toews and Kane here. Wonder how he would do with Zachary Hyman and Leo Komorov? They have a lot of pieces that are better than Toronto.
|
|
|
Post by bookboy007 on Nov 14, 2016 5:52:48 GMT
Why does everyone act as if the Jets didn't play the lottery? Ehlers, Connor, Lowry, Morrissey, Trouba, HellaBucyk - and Scheifele's one year into being a legit first liner. They have some pieces that are better than Toronto's, but not a lot of them. Laine's not on a line with Toews and Kane here. Wonder how he would do with Zachary Hyman and Leo Komorov? They have a lot of pieces that are better than Toronto. I don't know about a lot, but those pieces aren't good enough to make the playoffs, so simply "better than Toronto" is only part of the story.
|
|
|
Post by NAS on Nov 18, 2016 17:48:42 GMT
Despite a 6-1 victory, Matthews was invisible last night.
|
|
|
Post by RichHillOntario on Nov 19, 2016 3:13:02 GMT
For the last three weeks or so, some Toronto media outlets have been floating the idea the amount of hockey Matthews has played over the last year leading up to the season has caught up to him.
|
|
|
Post by 50belowzero on Nov 19, 2016 3:32:15 GMT
For the last three weeks or so, some Toronto media outlets have been floating the idea the amount of hockey Matthews has played over the last year leading up to the season has caught up to him. Sure, sounds about as good of an excuse as any. I think Laine has played a ton of hockey as well, doesn't seem to be affecting him too much. But the TO media is used to being forgiving.
|
|
|
Post by NAS on Nov 20, 2016 0:44:21 GMT
For the last three weeks or so, some Toronto media outlets have been floating the idea the amount of hockey Matthews has played over the last year leading up to the season has caught up to him. He's 19 right? He should be able to play five nights a week. For years!
|
|
|
Post by The OC on Nov 20, 2016 4:02:57 GMT
For the last three weeks or so, some Toronto media outlets have been floating the idea the amount of hockey Matthews has played over the last year leading up to the season has caught up to him. He's 19 right? He should be able to play five nights a week. For years! Hockey 5 nights, drinking 6 nights and banging puck bunnies 7. If not, he doesn't deserve the sweet ride he's been given.
|
|
|
Post by bookboy007 on Nov 22, 2016 16:45:37 GMT
For the last three weeks or so, some Toronto media outlets have been floating the idea the amount of hockey Matthews has played over the last year leading up to the season has caught up to him. That's a crazy excuse. He played 36 games for Zurich. Their season ends in February. As I recall, #Buston had more than a month - more like 6 weeks - to rest before he played in the World Championships, and another several months before he had to play in the World Cup. Zurich got bounced in round one last year, so he's probably played fewer than 60-70 games in the year leading up to his NHL debut. Granted, they were all against men except at the WJHC. But that's the usual load for an 18yr old junior player. Laine played 64 games in a better league, went deeper in the playoffs, and played in all the same international tournaments that #Buston did. DuBois played 74 games just in the Q. Tkachuk played 80 or so between RS, playoffs and Memorial Cup. A load as light as the 36 games for Zurich is more like what a USNTDP players play, and most of them don't go directly to the NHL - they're usually NCAA bound. Leaf media is a perfect example of the stupidity of crowds. The airwaves are so packed with Laff coverage in Toronto, they trip over one another trying to come up with something valuable or interesting to say and they consistently fail.
|
|
|
Post by 50belowzero on Nov 22, 2016 18:34:12 GMT
For the last three weeks or so, some Toronto media outlets have been floating the idea the amount of hockey Matthews has played over the last year leading up to the season has caught up to him. That's a crazy excuse. He played 36 games for Zurich. Their season ends in February. As I recall, #Buston had more than a month - more like 6 weeks - to rest before he played in the World Championships, and another several months before he had to play in the World Cup. Zurich got bounced in round one last year, so he's probably played fewer than 60-70 games in the year leading up to his NHL debut. Granted, they were all against men except at the WJHC. But that's the usual load for an 18yr old junior player. Laine played 64 games in a better league, went deeper in the playoffs, and played in all the same international tournaments that #Buston did. DuBois played 74 games just in the Q. Tkachuk played 80 or so between RS, playoffs and Memorial Cup. A load as light as the 36 games for Zurich is more like what a USNTDP players play, and most of them don't go directly to the NHL - they're usually NCAA bound. Leaf media is a perfect example of the stupidity of crowds. The airwaves are so packed with Laff coverage in Toronto, they trip over one another trying to come up with something valuable or interesting to say and they consistently fail. You bet it is. Very lame in fact. But leave it to the LeRf media to conjure up some excuse. Wheres Al Strachan when you need him.
|
|
|
Post by UtahGetMeTwo on Nov 22, 2016 20:58:28 GMT
For the last three weeks or so, some Toronto media outlets have been floating the idea the amount of hockey Matthews has played over the last year leading up to the season has caught up to him. That's a crazy excuse. He played 36 games for Zurich. Their season ends in February. As I recall, #Buston had more than a month - more like 6 weeks - to rest before he played in the World Championships, and another several months before he had to play in the World Cup. Zurich got bounced in round one last year, so he's probably played fewer than 60-70 games in the year leading up to his NHL debut. Granted, they were all against men except at the WJHC. But that's the usual load for an 18yr old junior player. Laine played 64 games in a better league, went deeper in the playoffs, and played in all the same international tournaments that #Buston did. DuBois played 74 games just in the Q. Tkachuk played 80 or so between RS, playoffs and Memorial Cup. A load as light as the 36 games for Zurich is more like what a USNTDP players play, and most of them don't go directly to the NHL - they're usually NCAA bound. Leaf media is a perfect example of the stupidity of crowds. The airwaves are so packed with Laff coverage in Toronto, they trip over one another trying to come up with something valuable or interesting to say and they consistently fail. The usual load, the load that is not in constable Kelv's uniform pants, for an 18 year old is USHL/CHL/NCAA not the KHL/SEL/SwissCheese leagues. And you add 3 tournaments, not 2 tourneys WJC/U18, two of them against NHL players, is a lot for any kid. But that is not issue with Matthews numbers. If Buston played wing on the PP or with Winnipeg, he would have a ton of goals. Buston is playing center on a crap team. Matthews doesn't have RNH, Lucic or Eberle flying around on his wing either. If Matthews is a bust I have not seen it yet. His numbers would be different on a Winnipeg or Oilers squad right now.
|
|
|
Post by bookboy007 on Nov 22, 2016 22:08:40 GMT
That's a crazy excuse. He played 36 games for Zurich. Their season ends in February. As I recall, #Buston had more than a month - more like 6 weeks - to rest before he played in the World Championships, and another several months before he had to play in the World Cup. Zurich got bounced in round one last year, so he's probably played fewer than 60-70 games in the year leading up to his NHL debut. Granted, they were all against men except at the WJHC. But that's the usual load for an 18yr old junior player. Laine played 64 games in a better league, went deeper in the playoffs, and played in all the same international tournaments that #Buston did. DuBois played 74 games just in the Q. Tkachuk played 80 or so between RS, playoffs and Memorial Cup. A load as light as the 36 games for Zurich is more like what a USNTDP players play, and most of them don't go directly to the NHL - they're usually NCAA bound. Leaf media is a perfect example of the stupidity of crowds. The airwaves are so packed with Laff coverage in Toronto, they trip over one another trying to come up with something valuable or interesting to say and they consistently fail. The usual load, the load that is not in constable Kelv's uniform pants, for an 18 year old is USHL/CHL/NCAA not the KHL/SEL/SwissCheese leagues. And you add 3 tournaments, not 2 tourneys WJC/U18, two of them against NHL players, is a lot for any kid. But that is not issue with Matthews numbers. If Buston played wing on the PP or with Winnipeg, he would have a ton of goals. Buston is playing center on a crap team. Matthews doesn't have RNH, Lucic or Eberle flying around on his wing either. If Matthews is a bust I have not seen it yet. His numbers would be different on a Winnipeg or Oilers squad right now. Woulda, shoulda, coulda.... Laine is second on the Jets in scoring, first in goals. He almost single-handedly created the one goal the Jets got against the Bruins the other night. On a night when all of the Jets were shut right the fuck down, he was the one guy who had any spark against them. That isn't the mark of a guy who is getting a free ride compared to #Buston. He also played against men, played more games, led his team deeper in the playoffs, and played in all the same tournaments. Meanwhile, if #Buston is surrounded by Jimmy Hayes clones, why are there 5 forwards and two other rookies ahead of him in scoring on that team? #Buston's -4 is worst on the Laffs. I hear a lot of excuses for his numbers and when you say no, it's not just his numbers, he's invisible out there a lot of nights, people throw out that he's "played a lot of hockey." If playing in two off-season tournaments between February and October is too much hockey for him, he should get a full physical to make sure he's not anemic or something. Bad idea to bring McDavid in. He's going to finish with twice as many points as Lucic and Eberle. In fact, as of right now...Lucic has 10 points and Eberle 14. McDavid has 24. Yeah, his success has a lot to do with having those two "flying around on his wing." Safe to say Matthews is not this year's McDavid. He might yet be this year's Eichel...you know, the American born pretender to the throne who gets compared to McDavid and then proves to be about 60% the player McDavid is? Kid'll be fine. I still hate that he's a Leaf. I think a season like Eichel's - which is nearly a carbon copy of John Tavares's first year, better than Taylor Hall's, comparable to RNH before he was injured, comparable to Toews, better than Stamkos (though who knows what Stamkos puts up if he isn't getting ridden by Melrose), and really only behind McDavid's 1.07 points/game half season and Patrick Kane as great debuts in recent years - should shut up any detractors and doesn't require a "oh, he was tired" type of excuse. That's an amazing year for an 18/19yr old kid. But I will still enjoy referring to him as #Buston even if it's mostly ironic.
|
|
|
Post by UtahGetMeTwo on Nov 22, 2016 23:20:42 GMT
Laine had better players around him at the Worlds and the WJC while playing for Finland. Matthews had a pile of junk around him at the Worlds. Certainly Laine has better players around him in Winnipeg. That cannot be discounted.
McJesus has less talent around him than Matthews does in Toronto ?
Please tell me you are not stating this ?
|
|
|
Post by bookboy007 on Nov 23, 2016 1:13:36 GMT
Laine had better players around him at the Worlds and the WJC while playing for Finland. Matthews had a pile of junk around him at the Worlds. Certainly Laine has better players around him in Winnipeg. That cannot be discounted. McJesus has less talent around him than Matthews does in Toronto ? Please tell me you are not stating this ? No, of course not. But to even suggest that McDavid's success is somehow about having Lucic and Eberle is ridiculous. I think the whole deal about the Laffs not giving him someone to play with is a smokescreen. It isn't holding point a game Marner back. It's the same crap they used to say about JT Superstar - oh, it's just the other players aren't good enough for him. BS.
|
|
|
Post by UtahGetMeTwo on Dec 20, 2016 2:19:51 GMT
|
|