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Toronto Maple Leafs: Five All-Star Game Hopefuls

By Matthew Rodrigopulle

Jan 1, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs players line up along the blue line for opening ceremonies prior to playing Detroit Red Wings during the Centennial Classic ice hockey game at BMO Field. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 1, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs players line up along the blue line for opening ceremonies prior to playing Detroit Red Wings during the Centennial Classic ice hockey game at BMO Field. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 1, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs Auston Matthews (34) skates the puck up ice against Detroit Red Wings during the Centennial Classic ice hockey game at BMO Field. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 1, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs Auston Matthews (34) skates the puck up ice against Detroit Red Wings during the Centennial Classic ice hockey game at BMO Field. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /

Auston Matthews

Out of all the players on the Leafs, Mr. First Overall should be a shoe-in to be the Leafs representative at the All-Star Game.

Auston Matthews has been hot as of late, scoring 21 points in his last 18 games. He has been a big reason for the Leafs recent success, and his play should not go unnoticed.

Matthews has already accomplished quite a lot in 37 games played for Toronto. Expectations were set quite high for him after he set the modern day record for most goals in an NHL debut with 4 goals, but he has proven he is up for the challenge.

He currently leads all NHL rookies as well as the entire Maple Leafs roster in scoring with 34 points (20 goals and 14 assists). He is also second in the entire league in goal scoring only behind a certain established superstar named Sidney Crosby.

Matthews is definitely making a name for himself, not only amongst rookies, but among the entire NHL. The only reason he may not make the All-Star game is because of the rarity of rookies making it. Some may argue that this does occur, but this should not really be a problem anymore, after players like Jeff Skinner, Aaron Ekblad, Johnny Gaudreau, and Dylan Larkin made the game as rookies in recent memory.

Although some of them may have only been named to the roster as injury replacements, the fact that Matthews is a rookie should not change the fact that he has been the Leafs best player this season and he deserves to represent his team amongst the greatest in the league.

https://twitter.com/BarstoolJordie/status/815706960079323136

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