Who's better: 92-93 Gilmour or 2021-22 Matthews?

[skoose]

Just wondering what you guys think.

The case for Matthews: he's likely gonna score around 67 goals which is just incredible
given how good the league is. He's also a very, very solid defensive player. Helping his team
along to what will be a franchise point record. In serious consideration for the Hart.

The case for Gilmour: Just a ridiculous amount of assists. Played with a physical edge Matthews
doesn't have. The team around Gilmour is worse than the current one. Won the Selke and had Hart
trophy consideration.

Obviously we know what Gilmour did in that years playoffs: one of the most spectacular individual performances
in recent hockey history. We don't know of this writing what Matthews will come up with.

If you had to pick one of these players to start a playoff series with who would you choose?

 

[shack]

All I will say is:

NOT EVEN CLOSE.

 

[unassuming]

Gilmour! he was a playmaker, more assists than goals, made the team better.
Doug played in era where the offensive zone was smaller and the 2 line pass was illegal.

 

[Sonic Temple]

I love AM34, but DG93 was it!

 

[shack]

Hard to compare players from different eras just because the game changes so much from one era to another. Gilmour I think was more of a leader, Matthews has more of an ability to single handedly take control of a game. Both great to watch.

You may be underestimating Matthews abilities as a leader. Just as Gilmour did, he leads by example. The difference is that Gilmour was more of rah rah, animated of type of guy and worked his butt off as well.

Matthews is so much more talented that he makes the game look easier. But look at how a guy with so much raw talent has learned how to play a 200 foot game, positions himself, pushes guys off himself as well as the puck, lifts sticks for takeaways and does not simply use that talent for offense.

And the thing is, his teammates see how hard he works. And all reports seem to indicate that he's a leader in the dressing room. And he's still a much younger leader than the veteran Gilmour was. I don't think that Gilmour was that much of a leader at age 24.

I'm not taking anything away from Dougie who was great, but with the vastly superior natural talent of AM, and both having demonstrable leadership qualities, I'd take him in a heartbeat.

 

[Indiana]

Killer!

 

[Toxboy75]

Gilmour. He shows up during the playoffs. May change my mind if Matthews does something this playoffs.

 

[shack]

I didn't say Matthews didn't have leadership abilities, just that I thought Gilmour had more. But overall Matthews is the more talented of the two. I'd actually say that Marner is also more naturally talented than Gilmour was.

Understood. Both are/were talented and both have/had leadership qualities. My opinion is that Matthews' superior skills more than compensates for Gilmour's superior leadership.

 

[K Douglas]

Matthews is a far more talented player than Gilmour ever was. But as of yet he does not have the intangibles that Gilmour possessed, most notably competitive spirit.

 

[poker]

Gilmour showed up when it counted. Every. Single. Time.

No one hopes Matthews puts on a playoff clinic (and proves me wrong) more than me…. But there is a reason we call him Killer.

 

[maurice93]

Gilmour! he was a playmaker, more assists than goals, made the team better.
Doug played in era where the offensive zone was smaller and the 2 line pass was illegal.

1993 was much more high scoring than 2022. It was a much easier year to score points even if there has been a nice increase in scoring this year. 3.63 goals vs 3.12 goals. (About a 15% difference)

Considering eras Matthew’s 2022 season is easily more dominant.

As an aside 1993 was largely the last year of the free wheeling high scoring era that dominated thr 1980s. Goals quickly dropped from 3.6 a game in 1993 to 2.6 a game in just 6 years. A staggering decline — not for the good either IMO.

 

[silentkisser]

I love both players, but if I needed to build a team, it would be around Matthews. He is big, strong and super talented. His shot is otherworldly. He can score in so many ways, and I never get the sense that he's loafing. His 200ft game is something to behold. He back checks like a banshee, and just the sheer number of take aways the kid has is amazing. If he can ever breakthrough in the playoffs, he will be even more of a legend. I don't think we want him to throw his body around like Wendel Clark, that would just destroy his body. He's worth every penny he makes, and then some. MVP??

 

[K Douglas]

1993 was much more high scoring than 2022. It was a much easier year to score points even if there has been a nice increase in scoring this year. 3.63 goals vs 3.12 goals. (About a 15% difference)

Considering eras Matthew’s 2022 season is easily more dominant.

As an aside 1993 was largely the last year of the free wheeling high scoring era that dominated thr 1980s. Goals quickly dropped from 3.6 a game in 1993 to 2.6 a game in just 6 years. A staggering decline — not for the good either IMO.

Spot on. Thank the Devils and the neutral zone trap for that drop in offence.

 

[shack]

I love both players, but if I needed to build a team, it would be around Matthews. He is big, strong and super talented. His shot is otherworldly. He can score in so many ways, and I never get the sense that he's loafing. His 200ft game is something to behold. He back checks like a banshee, and just the sheer number of take aways the kid has is amazing. If he can ever breakthrough in the playoffs, he will be even more of a legend. I don't think we want him to throw his body around like Wendel Clark, that would just destroy his body. He's worth every penny he makes, and then some. MVP??

92/93 was a fun time. The city was abuzz. I think that 30 years and nostalgia have influenced a lot of people and magnified the legend.

 

[golf4life]

Matthews all the way. I've always felt that Gilmour is over-rated!

 

[shack]

I've always felt that Gilmour is over-rated!

He was a small guy that worked hard and overachieved. The optics favour Gilmour.

 

[poker]

Gilmour excelled in the playoffs

 

[alwilm]

Matthews is more skilled but Gilmour's level of compete was next level... If Matthews can develop that level of intensity- watch out!

Just so intense!

"Killer"

 

[golf4life]

He was a small guy that worked hard and overachieved. The optics favour Gilmour.

No doubt the 93 was a hell of a player, but I stand by my original post.

 

[Insidious Von]

Still no love for Mats Sundin 2000 - 2001.

His numbers weren't as gaudy as the other two, he was a one man gang in the playoffs. Who knows, if Domi had not lost his mind the Leafs would be n the Finals against the Avalanche.