Toronto Maple Leafs: Matthews Skating Again
By James Tanner
The Toronto Maple Leafs have been without Auston Matthews for the last three games.
Injured in a game against the Islanders on February 22nd, the Toronto Maple Leafs best player is on the injured reserve with a separated shoulder.
Auston Matthews is skating, according to Mike Babcock. Adds the positive aspect of recovering from this type of injury — shoulder separation — is he can maintain fitness/conditioning.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) March 3, 2018
Considering this is the third injury that has forced Matthews to miss time this year, it’s amazing that the Leafs are doing so well. Full credit, of course, goes to the guy who should be the league MVP, Frederik Andersen, but honestly, the Leafs have shown an amazing amount of depth and resourcefulness without their star player, going 7-4-2 in 13 games without him.
While it’s nice the Leafs are winning games, it’s pretty genuinely scary that Matthews is proving to be so injury prone. First, six games with a back injury, followed by four games with a concussion and now however many with a separated shoulder.
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On one hand, it’s good that none of those injuries were repeated, but it’s also quite easy for a back and head injuries to become chronic. A healthy Auston Matthews is well on his way to becoming the best player in the history of the Toronto Maple Leafs, so let’s hope that is what happens.
Crazy Stats
Matthews has 28 goals and 50 points in 53 games so far this year. He doesn’t get nearly as much power-play time as other top centres in the NHL, thus limiting his production to under a point-per-game. Healthy, and with a regular amount of ice-time, relative to other players on his level, Matthews is easily in the conversation for the Art Ross trophy.
Despite playing in 10-11 games less than everyone else, Matthews is one goal back from the league lead in 5v5 goal scoring, and tied for second with Ovechkin, and Kucherov. He is 8th in total points per 60 minutes of ice time (5v5). What is crazy, is that he has way less than half the 2nd assists/60 than anyone ahead of him. Matthews spent the majority of his season with Nylander (low S%, half-season cold streak) and Hyman (never scores) thus limiting his ability to get that second, lucky assist.
If you parse the stats, it’s not hard to notice a couple of things:
- Matthews is the best goal scorer in the NHL, bar none.
- Matthews is the NHL’s best 5v5 player, bar none.
- Matthews is only prevented from leading the NHL in 5v5 points by his linemates and injuries.
- Matthews, if healthy and getting the PP time of his peers (all five of them), would be contending for the Hart, Art Ross and Rocket Richard Trophies.
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Auston Matthews has been injured three times this year, and yet, his stats still paint him as a reasonable MVP candidate and one of the best players in the NHL. It’s mind blowing that he’s only 20 years old and in his sophomore season.
When he comes back, it’s not unreasonable to thin the Leafs have the best team in hockey.