Laine v Matthews
- Thread starter zeke
- Start date
Leafin'
Well-known member
I'd say he has the potential to be anything he wants. It will really come down to how bad does he want to be one of the greats? Some players have the potential but fail to realize because of laziness, injuries or personal reasons. I hope with the way management has been building up the culture organization wide that we'll have an exceptionally hard working team on and off the ice. The off ice is the biggest thing to start. If you have good habits off the ice, it'll make working harder on the ice that much easier.
I think Stamkos would be an excellent add for that reason. Work ethic along with natural god given talent to lead the young guys. I think Stamkos signing here would be perfect for this franchise. We have a leader among the defenders in Morgan Rielly. A true gym rat. Stamkos would be that for the forwards. Set the tone in practice and in the gym.
Anyone that doesn't follow in their footsteps can take a hike.
BKerr
Banned
Eichel isn't one.
That again is the same pre-draft hype that wanted to put Eichel in the same stratosphere as McDavid to get page clicks, ratings, etc....
Eichel isn't a generational player and neither is Matthews.
Not a knock on them, they are very good. They just aren't Crosby/McDavid.
BKerr
Banned
That's a fair assessment.
number17
Mod Squad
Agreed .... generational talent, in my dictionary, is defined as very special players that the league sees only once every 10, 15 years. There's TGO, Lemiux, Lindros, Crosby, then ... maybe McDavid? That's the class of players I define as generational talent.
And for AM, he isn't in that class, but where his numbers project to at the moment places him firmly in the franchise player class. And I see him above just 'star player', but he's definitely got franchise player potential - the Sundin, Tavares class.
zeke
Well-known member
aside from a select handful of generational first overalls, I can make easy arguments that the majority of 2nd overalls in recent years are better than the first overalls.
and no scout ever claimed eichel was better than McDavid.
BKerr
Banned
Are there some seconds that are better? Sure
Some years (see taylor vs tyler) its a legit debate. I never said that there is always a clear cut number 1.
I merely said that even when there is a clear cut number 1 (kane, tavares, mcdavid, matthews) the media has a tendency to try and stir up doubt and controversy.
And yes there were people saying eichel was better last year. It was a season long debate.
mbow30
Spudmeister Supreme
it's not like they're sititng there wishing they had picked hedman.
BKerr
Banned
I'd say he is. The Isles would be a bad team without him, Tampa can survive without Hedman.
Habsy
Not playing around anymore.
Bite your tongue. Err fingers.
MindzEye
Wayward Ditch Pig
Did you get hit in the head during your hiatus?
leaffan2005
Well-known member
Yeah, I'm not a fan of this new zeke.
I would be thrilled if Matthews became another Tavares, and certainly wouldn't cry if Laine ends up being a big time player as well.
I would be thrilled if Matthews became another Tavares, and certainly wouldn't cry if Laine ends up being a big time player as well.
zeke
Well-known member
why do you think tampa doesn't miss stamkos?
leafman101
Well-known member
I'm not really sure I understand the point of this debate. Any team would love to have Stamkos or Doughty or Tavares or Hedman or Mcdavid or Eichel. But with the first overall pick you can only pick one, you can't have both. If we picked Laine first, most would argue (8 out of 10 scouts according to Bobby Mac) that the 2nd overall pick in Matthews was the better player. As long as there are multiple elite prospects at the top of the draft people will always be able to make that argument. Its not a knock on Stamkos, Tavares, McDavid or Matthews or a reason those teams should regret taking those players. The Islanders don't regret drafting Tavares. The Lightning don't regret drafting Stamkos. The Oilers don't regret drafting McDavid. No one will regret drafting Matthews.
I'm just glad this is a draft with an Auston Matthews at the top and not a Nail Yakupov, RNH, Erik Johnson, Nathan Mackinnon year. The Leafs lucked out here.
I'm just glad this is a draft with an Auston Matthews at the top and not a Nail Yakupov, RNH, Erik Johnson, Nathan Mackinnon year. The Leafs lucked out here.
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BKerr
Banned
As does the triplets line that decimated detroit
leafman101
Well-known member
Hedman is awesome, but for argument sake lets pretend that the Isles took him first. You'd probably be making the same argument right now about how he is not clear cut better than Tavares.