Toronto Maple leafs: Comparing Mathews First Two Years
With Auston Mathews first two seasons with the Toronto Maple leafs under his belt, how does he stack up with other superstars.
Since being drafted 1st overall in 2016 by the Toronto Maple Leafs, Auston Mathews has had to deal with the pressure and expectations of playing in hockey’s biggest market. It is incredible that Mathews has even exceeded these gigantic expectations placed upon him. A 40 goal rookie campaign, followed up by 34 in only in only 62 games puts Mathews in some good company.
Comparing players has always been commonplace in the sports landscape. We can’t just enjoy a player for what he is, we have to talk ad nauseam about what past or current player he reminds us of.
Since before his draft year had even arrived, we have heard Auston Mathews compared to: Anze Kopitar, Ron Francis and a more skilled Jonathan Toews. Lets take a look at how the Toronto Maple Leafs young Phenom compares to other stars throughout the league.
Generational Talents
The sports world has seemed to become really loose with how they describe certain players talent levels. The term generational talent gets thrown at any player that puts up good numbers in junior, and will be a top 5 pick. These are the players that immediately step in a change a bad organizations fortunes for years to comes.
Alex Ovechkin
The best goal scorer of his generation, Ovechkin has been filling the net since he entered the league in 2005. A Calder trophy winning season, where Ovechkin scored 52 goals and 106 points, followed by 46 goals and 92 points in year two, are numbers hard to match.
When just focusing on the goals, Auston Mathews is right on par with the great 8. Mathews was on pace to put up more than the 40 he scored as a rookie if he had stayed healthy this season. What has made Mathews first couple seasons so good, is his 5 on 5 impact. Only 13 of Mathews 74 career goals have come on the power play, (17%). Where as 38% of Ovechkins goals in his first two seasons came with the man advantage. When Mathews starts adding more power play goals, he will be flirting with 50 goal campaigns.
Where the drastic advantage comes for Ovechkin is the total points. Mathews assist numbers have yet to follow up his goal numbers. I personally love what Zach Hyman brings to the leafs, but it is easy to see his skill level can burden Mathews at times. Too many times will Mathews and Nylander be creating chances in the offensive zone, only to have the play die when it gets to Hyman. As long as Hyman is on that line, Mathews won’t post high assist totals.
Sidney Crosby
Comparing any player to Sidney Crosby is unfair. The point totals Crosby put up his first two seasons, simply just don’t happen anymore. 39 goals and 63 assists as a rookie followed by 36 goals and 84 assists is insane production. The 120 points in year two looks like it wont be matched again. Just like with Ovechkin, Mathews to this point has proven he can score at the same rate as the elite players.
Evgeni Malkin
A common theme continues to arise when comparing Auston Mathews to these players. His goal totals after two seasons are right in line with them. Malkin is no different. Geno scored 33 as a rookie, and then 47 in his second full season with the Pens.
Where the separation from Mathews continues is in the point totals. Mathews just hasn’t added the assists to his repertoire at this stage of his young career. That isn’t all on Mathews. Lets be honest, Mike Babcock hasn’t done his star any favours. Playing extended time with Hyman and Brown, doesn’t bode well for these numbers improving.
Playing center in the NHL is no easy task, and so far at time when goal scoring is down, Mathews has put up special numbers. Being in the company of these three first ballot Hall of Famers is a good start.
Patrick Kane
Kane has been a human highlight reel for the past decade. He is the definition of a flashy player, who is worth the price of admission. Mathews stacks up almost perfectly to Kane’s point totals in his first 2 seasons. Kane posted 72 points as a rookie, and 70 the following season, which is similar to Mathews, 69 and 63 point totals.
Where Mathews has had the more success early on is goal scoring. Kane only put up 21 goals as a rookie, and 25 in year two. Mathews has been the Leafs best goal scorer since the moment he stepped into the lineup. Kane is the better playmaker, Mathews the superior scorer.
John Tavares
Could they be future teammates? Wishful thinking aside, Mathews first two years with the Leafs were better than Tavares’ first two on Long Island. Mathews is already the more proven goal scorer, With Tavares yet to reach 40 goals in his nine year career. Tavares put up respectable numbers in his first two seasons, with 24 goals his rookie year and then 29. Mathews already looks to be the better player.
Nathan Mackinnon
With Mathews immediately setting the league on fire, it is easy to forgot that it takes time for most players to come into their own. This is the case for Nate Mackinnon. Both his first two seasons point totals of 63 and 38 are below Mathews, as well as the goal totals being well below.
I can’t even imagine how much Leafs nation would be freaking out if Mathews only had a 14 goal season like MacKinnon did in year two. I would take Mathews over MacKinnon every time, even though Mathews may never have as high a point total as the Avs star did this season (97).
Connor Mcdavid
Oh, what could have been. Going into the final ball of the 2015 draft lottery, the Leafs had the best odds to secure the number 1 pick. Mcdavid has been spectacular since entering the league, and you can already argue he is the best player. His rookie year was shortened because of injury, but he was still over a point a game, then followed that up by collecting 100 in year two.
Mathews will never post the point totals that Mcdavid does. That’s fine, he is still an elite player,who will have the same goal scoring production, if not better.
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Patrik Laine
What would an Auston Mathews comparison piece be without talking about Laine. The first and second overall picks from 2016 will be compared to each other forever.
The draft experts all had Mathews as the number 1 rated player, but had Laine as the better goal scorer. The comparisons of Laine to Ovechkin were spot on. Both do most of their damage on the power play. 36 percent of Laine’s goals come on the power, more than double the percent of Mathews. Mathews is the better goal scorer, because he doesn’t have to rely on the pp.
Give me the better 5v5 player. Laine may ultimately put up higher goal totals, but Mathews is without question the better player.
the Leafs truly did win the jackpot when they secured the number 1 pick in 2016. Players of Auston Mathews ability don’t come around every year.
Next: This Should be the Leafs Top Pairing
Even though it has only been two seasons, the future Leafs captain is on a trajectory with the games best. The scary part for the other 30 teams, he is only scratching the surface of the player he will be.
Stats from hockeyreference.com