Auston Matthews is the best player in modern NHL history to ever wear the Toronto Maple Leafs uniform.
It remains to be seen if he’ll earn the love accorded to Wendel Clark, hit the highs of Doug Gilmour or Daryl Sitler, or have the longevity of Mats Sundin, but as far as talent goes: Auston Matthews might be the best Toronto Maple Leafs player ever.
As he enters his third year, its fair to ask what he can achieve.
In his rookie year, he led the NHL in 5v5 goals – he didn’t win the overall title, but scoring the most 5v5 goals is a better achievement. In year two, he missed 25% of the season, and still only missed out on the 5v5 title by a four goals. He led the NHL with 1.68 goals / 60.
For comparison’s sake, in 2007-08 when Ovechkin set a career high with 65 goals, he scored at a rate of 1.54 goals /60.
Its safe to say Auston Matthews is the best goal scorer in the NHL today.
Significantly.
So Where’s He Go From Here?
Well, Alex Ovechkin is widely considered to be the best goal scorer of the modern era, and some stats guys will tell you that if you adjust for the era, he’s the best goal scorer of all-time.
And Auston Matthews scored at a higher rate in a year where he repeatedly had to come back from injuries, played most of his minutes with Zach Hyman, and was only a sophomore.
So the ceiling for Auston Matthews appears to be GREATEST GOALS SCORER OF ALL-TIME.
Now, is that likely? I wouldn’t say likely, but it’s not impossible.
If Matthews improves, as he is almost certain to, and if he gets the opportunity to play on the Power Play’s first unit (he will), has a bit of luck and stays healthy, topping Ovechkin’s 65 goals isn’t out of the question.
It’s not the 1980s, so Gretzky’s 92 goals is probably impossible, but a 75 goal season – even a goal per game 82 – isn’t out of the question.
Again, Matthews just put up a goals/60 at 5v5 that surpassed Ovechkin’s highest goal season.
It’s a little hard to believe, even now, that he’s a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
His potential is all-time great. While saying Matthews could be McDavid’s equal was laughably preposterous only a year ago, it’s now within the realm of possibility. McDavid’s pretty damn good and it’s unlikely Matthews will ever be better (that speed!) but it’s no longer a preposterous notion.
His career potential is the goal scoring ability of Alex Ovechkin with the defensive responsibility of a Sidney Crosby or Anze Kopitar. He plays centre and most likely he’ll start getting more assists as the Leafs and his linemates get better.
The only reason that he isn’t currently a point-per-game player is because he hasn’t gotten the power-play time a player of his stature normally gets. When he does, and he will, he’ll be looking at 100 points annually.
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Ovechkin had his best season in his third year. Crosby in his second. Gretzky in his fourth. Look for Auston Matthews to explode this year for the Toronto Maple Leafs. 70+ goals is a realistic possibility.