Who Will Be First to CUP?
- Thread starter Darts
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Tough call, but I am going to go with McDavid. He is a generational superstar (I would take him over Matthews any day) and those guys usually find a way to win the cup. If Matthews jumps ship to another team, he will have a chance to beat McDavid. The clock is going to run out on this current Leaf team and they will need another rebuild before things will get better.
Bedard may be a few years away as he will be drafted by a shitty team in a rebuild.
Bedard may be a few years away as he will be drafted by a shitty team in a rebuild.
It's possible McDavid and Matthews might never win the CUP or win it late in their careers. If memory serves me right, it took Oveckin, Stamkos and Yzerman years to win their CUP(s).
Out of the three, I think Matthews might be the most likely. I agree with @Ref that McDavid is out of this world great. But Matthews is maybe the second or third best player in the league. All that being said, the Leafs have a more well-rounded team than the Oilers, but have a harder path to the finals (likely having to face the Lightening and Bruins to get there).
As for Beddard, yeah, he could be a superstar as well, but it could be a looooong time before one of the bottom dwellers who could draft him might be able to compete. Look at the Sabres. They tanked hard hoping to get McDavid and wound up with Eichel (still a pretty talented player). However, on the downward spiral, they traded all sorts of talent so there was nothing for Eichel to play with for the most part. It was like burning the furniture in a mansion to stay warm...Yes, you got warm, but now you need to replace everything. So, look at the Hawks or Coyotes (or the other teams), and which have the ability to re-tool and be a contender fastest? Who has talent on the farm that could step up like the Pens did when Crosby came to town (Fluery, Letang etc.).
As for Beddard, yeah, he could be a superstar as well, but it could be a looooong time before one of the bottom dwellers who could draft him might be able to compete. Look at the Sabres. They tanked hard hoping to get McDavid and wound up with Eichel (still a pretty talented player). However, on the downward spiral, they traded all sorts of talent so there was nothing for Eichel to play with for the most part. It was like burning the furniture in a mansion to stay warm...Yes, you got warm, but now you need to replace everything. So, look at the Hawks or Coyotes (or the other teams), and which have the ability to re-tool and be a contender fastest? Who has talent on the farm that could step up like the Pens did when Crosby came to town (Fluery, Letang etc.).
Go fuck yourself...It will be Bedard. With Montreal. In 2 years.
Bedard as great as he is, has his WHL team barely in the playoffs.
He's not going to be able to lead an NHL team to the cup within his first 3 years.
Crosby did do in his fourth year -- but he also had a great running mate in Malkin who had been drafted a year earlier.
Don't think that co-player is out there for Bedard in terms of most likely teams to get him. (Arizona, Columbus, Chicago, Anaheim, San Jose, Vancouver, Montreal)
He's not going to be able to lead an NHL team to the cup within his first 3 years.
Crosby did do in his fourth year -- but he also had a great running mate in Malkin who had been drafted a year earlier.
Don't think that co-player is out there for Bedard in terms of most likely teams to get him. (Arizona, Columbus, Chicago, Anaheim, San Jose, Vancouver, Montreal)
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Agree that even a great player needs a good supporting cast.
Toews had Kane and Keith.
McDavid has Draisaitl
Matthews has Marner, Taveres, Nylander
I have to admit, at first glance this looked like a "Mother May I..." joke from ancient childhood
As good/great as they are, neither McDavid or Matthews are likely to win with their current teams in their current formations. Both the Oilers and Leafs are forward top heavy. Their superstars are amazing offensive talents but mostly average in other aspects of the game. Their salaries take up such a huge chunk of the salary cap that their teams lack depth up front and the back end has been either ordinary or subpar. Toronto has better balance, but both teams would need several other players to play above their pay grade to compensate.
Teams that win these days are much better balanced and/or their best players play a 200 foot game (e g Crosby, Bergeron, Point). Both Crosby and Bergeron took discounts to stay with their current teams and have won cups. They score fewer points and make less money, but they have won cups. I think it is still the case that no team with a player earning more than $10 million has ever won the cup.
Before the salary cap era, teams could afford elite 2-way forwards (e.g. Gainey, Carbonneau, Lemaire, Tikkanen, Draper, Maltby....) and put them on the ice in key situations, giving the elite scorers more favourable situations.
Bedard's current team is not very strong and unlikely to go deep in WHL players. He's by far the best junior player but the team is weak overall. Same issue, different level.
Yes McDavid is the most exciting offensive player now and maybe ever. I just don't see him winning the cup anytime soon.
Teams that win these days are much better balanced and/or their best players play a 200 foot game (e g Crosby, Bergeron, Point). Both Crosby and Bergeron took discounts to stay with their current teams and have won cups. They score fewer points and make less money, but they have won cups. I think it is still the case that no team with a player earning more than $10 million has ever won the cup.
Before the salary cap era, teams could afford elite 2-way forwards (e.g. Gainey, Carbonneau, Lemaire, Tikkanen, Draper, Maltby....) and put them on the ice in key situations, giving the elite scorers more favourable situations.
Bedard's current team is not very strong and unlikely to go deep in WHL players. He's by far the best junior player but the team is weak overall. Same issue, different level.
Yes McDavid is the most exciting offensive player now and maybe ever. I just don't see him winning the cup anytime soon.
Excellent analysis. I said the same back in 2019. Plus, the Leafs still don't have a strong physical style pf play.
It will be Bedard. With Buffalo. In 2 years.It will be Bedard. With Montreal. In 2 years.
Fixed it for you.
They would need to tank a little harder down the stretch to finish in the bottom 10 which would allow them to pick 1st.
If Bedard did end up on Buffalo that would give them a core of Owen Power, Tage Thompson, and Bedard. Not too many teams would pass up on that.
Hockey needs a momentum. The MLS is starting to draw huge crowd and is eating up on hockey and baseball...
Something tells me the league want the Bedard phenomenon (because he is!) in one of the 3 biggest revenue stream team. Which are the Rangers, Leafs and the Habs.
Chicago could be a spoiler to get him.
McDavid and Matthews still haven't made the CUP finals (or even close) yet. Wouldn't it be funny (maybe not) if Bedard win the CUP before them?
