The Toronto Maple Leafs first overall selection in 2016 did not disappoint in his rookie season.
When Auston Matthews was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs, everyone knew this kid would be absolute dynamite.
And he was, from the very first game of the season when he scored four goals in his debut game, one of which was disgustingly beautiful.
How’s the for slang?
More from Editor In Leaf
- Toronto Maple Leafs: Nick Robertson Healthy and Ready
- Ryan Reaves Will Have Zero Impact on Toronto Maple Leafs
- Toronto Maple Leafs: Playing Max Domi In Top-Six a HUGE Mistake
- Top 10 Scandals in the History of the Toronto Maple Leafs
- Toronto Maple Leafs: Results from the Traverse City Prospects Tournament
Hey, I’m allowed to use phrases like that because I’m a 20 something-year-old.
Anyways, Matthews scored 40 goals and a team leading 69 points in his rookie season, an unbelievable mark.
His efforts lead him to be awarded the Calder Trophy as the league’s best rookie for the 2016-17 season, beating out the likes of Patrik Lanie and Zach Werenski.
Not to mention fellow teammates William Nylander and Mitchell Marner.
It was one of the best seasons for rookies across the board in recent NHL history.
Yesterday, odds were revealed for the 2017-18 Hart Trophy winner and you’ll like where Matthews sits.
Hart Trophy Odds
Could you imagine a Leafs player winning the Hart Trophy?
The last Leafs player to win was Ted Kennedy in the 1954-55 season, so quite a while ago.
Now that we have budding stars in the lineup, the Hart Trophy may be claimed by a Toronto player soon.
| PLAYER (TEAM) | ODDS TO WIN |
|---|---|
| Connor McDavid (EDM) | 3/2 |
| Sidney Crosby (PIT) | 5/2 |
| Auston Matthews (TOR) | 17/2 |
| Alex Ovechkin (WSH) | 9/1 |
| Patrick Kane (CHI) | 14/1 |
| Vladimir Tarasenko (STL) | 15/1 |
| Evgeni Malkin (PIT) | 16/1 |
| Carey Price (MTL) | 20/1 |
| John Tavares (NYI) | 20/1 |
| Jamie Benn (DAL) | 25/1 |
| Steven Stamkos (TB) | 25/1 |
| Erik Karlsson (OTT) | 33/1 |
| Nikita Kucherov (TB) | 33/1 |
| Jack Eichel (BUF) | 50/1 |
| Patrik Laine (WPG) | 50/1 |
| Brad Marchand (BOS) | 50/1 |
| Tyler Seguin (DAL) | 50/1 |
| Nicklas Backstrom (WSH) | 60/1 |
| Brent Burns (SJ) | 60/1 |
| Braden Holtby (WSH) | 60/1 |
| Phil Kessel (PIT) | 60/1 |
| Artemi Panarin (CBJ) | 60/1 |
| Joe Pavelski (SJ) | 60/1 |
Connor McDavid ranks number one on the list, while Sidney Crosby trails behind him, no real surprises there.
Both are pretty deserving.
However, Matthews is number three, beating out guys like Alex Ovechkin, Patrick Kane, and Vladimir Taresenko.
The list in there, you can see for yourself who he beat out, but the point is that he beat a lot of pretty elite players.
Do you think that Matthews will claim the Hart Trophy this year, another year or never?
Let me know in the comments section below, I’ll be here to interact as always.