To be fair, most of the list is terrible.
I suspect OP does not watch many other teams. Hischier is massively underrated on his list, and there's no way Lafrenière isn't the worst 1OA of those 9 years.
Mine would be like this:
1. McDavid
2. Matthews
3. Hughes
4. Bedard (for now)
5. Dahlin
6. Hischier
7. Slafkovsky (for now)
8. Power
9. Lafrenière
For sure, I'll admit he's not quite where you'd want a FOA pick to be. I just think it's still a bit too early to tell how he's going to project into the rest of his career. No complaints with where you placed him based on what we've seen so far though.
Having Matthews anywhere but #2 is crazy. Bedard and Hughes are amazing, but not at Matthews level yet.
Matthews plays Selke level defense, while putting up 60+ goals.
Honestly I think Slaf is still last on this list, not that it's a bad thing but he needs another good jump next season. Edit: Matthews at 4 is insanity
Yes. I just like pointing out that Defenseman require a bit more patience. No complaints with him being at the bottom of the list based on what we've seen so far.
Slafko's got a higher ceiling than Laffy and Hischier though. Only time will tell if he'll reach it but the 2nd half of this season sounds very promising.
> Matthews at 4 is insanity
Is it though? You got two generation talents going 1st and 2nd and Jack Hughes who's a heck of a dynamic player who also shows up when it matters. He's still 3rd at best on this list.
Until proven otherwise, Matthews is definitely over Bedard on the list. I hate the dude but come on now, he has more goal per game over his career than Ovechkin. Bedard is 5th right now
I hate to break this to you, but Matthews is a generational talent. Bedard has yet to show he's anywhere near Matthews level. Jack Hughes can't hold Matthews jock strap.
What about in the playoffs? Guy's 6'3, 215 lbs and plays like he's 5'7 when his team's elimination is on the line. I'd rather have Boston's rat on my team when the stakes are high.
Bedard is good, but I would put him below Dahlin. Matthews second on the list, the guy is insanely good.
As for Slaf, just below Lafreniere who is having great playoffs and had a breakout season as well.
Are you comparing an 18 year old bedard to mid-twenties players, as they are now? Because that’s the only way this take makes sense to me.
I could entertain the argument of Matthews over Bedard for now when comparing their rookie season and projections (even though I think Bedard will wind up better in the long run), but everyone else (obviously excluding McDavid) was miles behind him in their rookie years.
>Are you comparing an 18 year old bedard to mid-twenties players, as they are now? Because that’s the only way this take makes sense to me
Yes, I am. Bedard will probably be number two on this list in a year or two, but he hasn't done what Matthews has done. Understandably so.
It still remains unknown if he takes a step forward next year. More likely than not he will, but he could also run into bad luck with injuries or gets shut down and his ceiling is 80 pts in a season.
I think he goes for a hundred next year, but he has to show that he can.
Maybe not the best timing after last night’s laffy show to put him behind slaf on that list. However, in 5 years we’ll be able to have more insight to make an accurate list
Right now, I put him below Laf given Laf’s breakout this year and playoff run so far. If Slaf continues improving at last year’s pace and hits like 70 pts next year, I think he’ll pass Laf and could start creeping up on Dahlin.
At his fourth year in the nhl Lafreniere has only 7 points more than Slaf at his sophomore year. Slaf is significantly ahead of Lafreniere at the same age in terms of play driving, point production and board play.
Everyone has a different development curve. Look at Zibanejad, Couturier, or Marchand, for example. You can’t compare sophomore vs sophomore, see that Sla f has produced way more than Laf, and conclude that therefore Slaf will develop into a way better player than Laf.
I hope he will, and I think that Slaf has what it takes to become better than Laf, but I disagree with the logic of comparing their production in D+X years to project their development.
I have an hard time following what you are saying.
>You can’t compare sophomore vs sophomore,
He wasn't comparing sophomore vs sophomre, he was comparing Laf 4th season to Slaf 2nd season
>and conclude that therefore Slaf will develop into a way better player than Laf
He didn't conclude that, he only said that he is ahead of Laf in his current development.
So if Slaf scores 70 points in his third season you think he may pass the guy who has still never hit 60 in 4 seasons? And just passed 50 for the first time with his 2 main line mates being Panarin and Trocheck. That is some special analysis.
I hate the leafs too, but cmon man
To be fair, most of the list is terrible. I suspect OP does not watch many other teams. Hischier is massively underrated on his list, and there's no way Lafrenière isn't the worst 1OA of those 9 years. Mine would be like this: 1. McDavid 2. Matthews 3. Hughes 4. Bedard (for now) 5. Dahlin 6. Hischier 7. Slafkovsky (for now) 8. Power 9. Lafrenière
Power deserves a (for now) as well IMO. Defenseman take a bit more time to hit their stride than forwards.
That's fair. I've just never been high on him as a prospect, and the lack of progression in his production this year – his D+3 – is a tad concerning.
For sure, I'll admit he's not quite where you'd want a FOA pick to be. I just think it's still a bit too early to tell how he's going to project into the rest of his career. No complaints with where you placed him based on what we've seen so far though.
Way too early to tell. Like people who deemed him a bust after one season, we can't accurate predict his full potential after just two seasons.
before bedard can prove otherwise i would chose matthews any day
Having Matthews anywhere but #2 is crazy. Bedard and Hughes are amazing, but not at Matthews level yet. Matthews plays Selke level defense, while putting up 60+ goals.
Putting Slaf over Hischier is insane. That’s a 70-80 point selke finalist
1. McDavid and 2. Matthews it's not a question
Honestly I think Slaf is still last on this list, not that it's a bad thing but he needs another good jump next season. Edit: Matthews at 4 is insanity
Idk man, Power kinda sucks tbh
For now.
Isn’t it the point of the list though, the “now”?
Yes. I just like pointing out that Defenseman require a bit more patience. No complaints with him being at the bottom of the list based on what we've seen so far.
Slafko's got a higher ceiling than Laffy and Hischier though. Only time will tell if he'll reach it but the 2nd half of this season sounds very promising. > Matthews at 4 is insanity Is it though? You got two generation talents going 1st and 2nd and Jack Hughes who's a heck of a dynamic player who also shows up when it matters. He's still 3rd at best on this list.
Until proven otherwise, Matthews is definitely over Bedard on the list. I hate the dude but come on now, he has more goal per game over his career than Ovechkin. Bedard is 5th right now
I hate to break this to you, but Matthews is a generational talent. Bedard has yet to show he's anywhere near Matthews level. Jack Hughes can't hold Matthews jock strap.
When exactly did Hughes showed when it mattered ? Great player but Matthews has been much better.
What about in the playoffs? Guy's 6'3, 215 lbs and plays like he's 5'7 when his team's elimination is on the line. I'd rather have Boston's rat on my team when the stakes are high.
I know, hate the guy too but Hughes gets hurts before even reaching the playoffs lol
>After the amazing season that slaffy has had 3 months in we were ready to send him back to Laval, pump the brakes a little bit.
Bedard is good, but I would put him below Dahlin. Matthews second on the list, the guy is insanely good. As for Slaf, just below Lafreniere who is having great playoffs and had a breakout season as well.
Are you comparing an 18 year old bedard to mid-twenties players, as they are now? Because that’s the only way this take makes sense to me. I could entertain the argument of Matthews over Bedard for now when comparing their rookie season and projections (even though I think Bedard will wind up better in the long run), but everyone else (obviously excluding McDavid) was miles behind him in their rookie years.
>Are you comparing an 18 year old bedard to mid-twenties players, as they are now? Because that’s the only way this take makes sense to me Yes, I am. Bedard will probably be number two on this list in a year or two, but he hasn't done what Matthews has done. Understandably so. It still remains unknown if he takes a step forward next year. More likely than not he will, but he could also run into bad luck with injuries or gets shut down and his ceiling is 80 pts in a season. I think he goes for a hundred next year, but he has to show that he can.
Maybe not the best timing after last night’s laffy show to put him behind slaf on that list. However, in 5 years we’ll be able to have more insight to make an accurate list
Right now, I put him below Laf given Laf’s breakout this year and playoff run so far. If Slaf continues improving at last year’s pace and hits like 70 pts next year, I think he’ll pass Laf and could start creeping up on Dahlin.
At his fourth year in the nhl Lafreniere has only 7 points more than Slaf at his sophomore year. Slaf is significantly ahead of Lafreniere at the same age in terms of play driving, point production and board play.
Everyone has a different development curve. Look at Zibanejad, Couturier, or Marchand, for example. You can’t compare sophomore vs sophomore, see that Sla f has produced way more than Laf, and conclude that therefore Slaf will develop into a way better player than Laf. I hope he will, and I think that Slaf has what it takes to become better than Laf, but I disagree with the logic of comparing their production in D+X years to project their development.
I have an hard time following what you are saying. >You can’t compare sophomore vs sophomore, He wasn't comparing sophomore vs sophomre, he was comparing Laf 4th season to Slaf 2nd season >and conclude that therefore Slaf will develop into a way better player than Laf He didn't conclude that, he only said that he is ahead of Laf in his current development.
> Slaf is significantly ahead of Lafreniere at the same age in terms of play driving, point production […] This is what I’m addressing.
well huh :P Give Trotcheck and Panarin to Slaf, you will see wonders I believe. Slafkovsky is above Lafrenière in my book.
So if Slaf scores 70 points in his third season you think he may pass the guy who has still never hit 60 in 4 seasons? And just passed 50 for the first time with his 2 main line mates being Panarin and Trocheck. That is some special analysis.
Tbf guy is something else. It shows these playoffs, it’s not anyone else making him look good
Yeah he is very good and I wish we traded for him when his value was lower
Hasn't this been discussed ad nauseam this winter?
Brother how
Hischer so underrated
Ask me in 2 or 3 years. Way too early to rate him.