Toronto Maple Leafs: Matthews Compared to Sundin

Mats Sundin is one of the greatest Toronto Maple Leafs players ever. Auston Matthews is a superstar in the making and could possibly be better than Sundin.

The Toronto Maple Leafs acquired Sundin from the Quebec Nordiques alongside Garth Butcher, Todd Warriner and a first round pick in 1994 (Nolan Baumgartner) for Wendel Clark, Sylvain Lefebvre, Landon Wilson and a first round pick in 1994 (Jeff Kealty).

The Leafs drafted Matthews first overall during the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.

Similarity #1: Complete Player

There is a reason why Sundin leads all Leafs players in goals and points: he was a complete player. Sundin could shoot the puck from anywhere in the offensive zone, or make an amazing pass.

His strength made it very hard to get the puck away from him, and his quick slap shots were accurate from the top of the circle. On top of that, Mats would have a defensive game as well, showing that not only was he good offensively but he can come back and help the defense as well.

Matthews is the first superstar center the Leafs have had since Sundin left the team in 2008. . Though he was sheltered heavily in his rookie season, Matthews seemed to gain Babcock’s trust as the season progressed. He wasn’t a defensive presence by any stretch, but he did post positive possession numbers and he appears to have the potential to bring a full two-way game to the table.

There is no doubt Matthews’ offense can match Sundin’s – both players are/were elite with the puck. Though he’s not Sundin’s 6’5, Matthews similar size and skill combo should allow him to develop into a strong two-way player, like Mats Sundin was.

Similarity #2: Leadership

Mats Sundin was a quiet leader who led by exampnle. While he could get his teammates going with a speech, he would also go onto the ice and make game-changing moves. He may not have been the type of vocal leader fans were used to from their captains, but his quiet professionalism did come to embody the team for over a decade.

Not only that, he also showed a lot of perseverance. After taking a high-stick close to his eye and needing stitches, Sundin was back out on the ice right away. He would also stick up for his teammates, he would not fight but he would separate players if needed.

Matthews is the same way. He leads by his actions. Many regard Matthews as the next captain of the Leafs. Just like Sundin, Matthews has scored game-tying and game-winning goals but he is also known for opening the scoring a lot. This gets his team going and generates momentum early in a game when it is most crucial.

Similarity #3: Consistent Production

Sundin was a very consistent player. He had 1349 points in 1346 games while playing the majority of his career in the lowest scoring era ever. With this dependability, he was a clutch player as well. This was shown with his 500th career NHL goal. After going back and forth with the Calgary Flames and the game tied 4-4 in overtime, he not only scored his 500th goal, but it was shorthanded and completed his hat-trick.

While Matthews has only been in the NHL for one year, he has shown the traits of being consistent. Even during his scoring draughts last year, he continued to pile up shots on goal and play excellent hockey even when he was getting unlucky. Matthews has also shown the tendencies of being a clutch player, scoring the overtime goal in the Centennial Classic to beat the Detroit Red Wings 5-4. His overall consistency should improve as he approaches his prime.

Overview

Both players are elite talents and franchise centers. They both are complete players, being able to play a full 200 foot game. Sundin was the Toronto Maple Leafs captain for years, and many believe Matthews is the next in line for that role. The both lead with not only their words, but their actions as well. On top of that, they are consistent. Sundin had a point per game pace over his entire career, and Matthews well on his way to doing the same.

This is probably the hardest choice I will have to make, I am a huge fan of both players. Sundin is in the HHOF and leads the Leafs in goals and points. On the other hand, Matthews scored the most goals and points by a rookie in Leafs history. On top of that, his rookie season was better than Sundin’s. Matthews had 40 goals and 29 assists for 69 points in 82, Sundin had 23 goals and 36 assists for 59 points in 80 games. Matthews was better in an era where scoring is at an all-time low.

Next: Building a Blue-Line from Within

All things considered, I would have to choose Sundin. His achievements are remarkable. He is arguably the best player in the entire history of the franchise. While I do believe Matthews has a good chance to surpass Sundin, at this moment he is not there yet. If Matthews can lead the team to a Stanley Cup then I will definitely have to revisit this article.

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