All I’m saying is that barkov is much better defensively and if u look at teams that win the CUP(the one that matters) they all have good defensive c

Barkov gives up less high danger chances, way less medium danger and way less low danger. So I guess he’s better defensively?

None at this point, has Barkov even played a playoff game? I mean Barkov is a great C but to comment "Barkov is a Championship C" that's a little dim witted

Well Matthews was on a 90-point pace this year and scored at an 85 point pace last year. Also, goals are more valuable than assists and Matthews is one of the top 3 scorers in the league (1 behind the league lead). In 2 years, Barkov would command what Matthews is making anyway so that difference only lasts a couple seasons. I know *** good barkov is at controlling the puck but Matthews is just as good, if not better, at handling the puck.

You are incorrect, all stats suggest Matthews is just as good Defensively as Barkov

all im saying is that Barkov isnt THAT much better defensivly and teams that win the cup have 1 thing in common more than defensive centers. Goaltending.
Matthews is better and would do more with equal goaltending.

Like I said, its close but being on pace for something and actually doing it are 2 different things. Taylor Hall was technically in pave for another 90+ point season last year too. Arvidsson was on pqce for 50 goals last year. Draisaitl and McDavid were on pace for 200+ points each by December this year.
As for goals vs assists, I'm still taking Crosby over Ovi 9/10 times and Ovi's the best goal scorer the games ever seen. I take Kane over Laine too, i value elite playmaking very highly as that player can essentially set up a pylon for 30 goals a season. This is no knock against Matthews, hes insanely skilled but on any given night him, Barkov, and Eichel are interchangeable in terms of my center rankings in the league

High danger, medium danger, low danger chances against barkov is much better. Nice try

Mathews is a very good player. My taste is in defensive centres. Matthews isn’t bad but isn’t a stud defensively. Anderson is a good goaltender who just hasn’t heated up in the playoffs which is unfortunate.
Maybe the leafs can win a cup and maybe the panthers can. You have your opinion and I have mine.
Another thing is that barkov is making half the money Matthews is but will sign a huge deal.

Barkov had an xG% of 49.10% Matthews was over 55%. For high danger chances, Matthew generated an incredible 256 this season and gave up 199 compared to Barkov who gave up 167 but created only 164. Barkov created 420 overall chances in comparison to 405 against in chances overall. Matthews 660-527. To suggest Matthews is poor defensively only stands up if you ignore TO plays a higher event style of hockey than Florida. If you look at what he does in comparison to what he gives up, it's pretty amazing what he's doing. Those numbers for example are significantly better than McDavids this season. Matthews created more scoring chances and gave up less than McDavid. Same with high danger chances. I know McDavid is the best offensive player in hockey but Matthews isn't far behind offensively and it's not hard to prove he's significantly better than McDavid has been defensively.

If Matthews ‘creates‘ more than mcdavid then why isn’t he the best offensively. Don’t get me wrong he’s a best, but he’s considerably worse defensively than barkov. Also barkov is on a down year. I’d take barkovs defence over Matthews but Matthews offence. I like defensive centres so I choose barkov.
Also at half the salary.

Matthews is also 3 years younger and has gotten significantly better each year on the defensive side of things. Don't let you Habs bias get in the way of sense. No one in the know would want Barkov over Matthews.

Not a biased Habs fan. One of my favourite players in the nhl is mitch marner