Toronto Maple Leafs: Auston Matthews Year In Review
As many of you know, Auston Matthews was drafted first overall in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs.
He was the second player in franchise history to be selected first overall and the first since Wendel Clark in 1985.
On and off the ice, despite not having a letter on his jersey, Matthews is a leader for the Toronto Maple Leafs and leads by example by not taking dumb penalties and holding himself in a professional manner in interviews.
The 21-year-old centre just completed his third and best season in the NHL. With 73 points in 68 games, despite having to deal with alternating linemates, Matthews was easily the best Leaf this season.
Okay, maybe not easily because Mitch Marner did have a really good season. Nevertheless, Matthews was the best player for the Leafs this season.
Regular Season
Matthews came out of the gate hot. In his first seven games of the season, Matthews had a least two points in each of contest, and had a total of 10 goals and 16 points during that time span.
He was a beast; unstoppable. Then, he went pointless for the next four games.
On October 27th against the Winnipeg Jets, Matthews was body checked by Jacob Trouba and missed a month of action with a shoulder injury.
He then returned on November 28th against the San Jose Sharks and posted two goals and three points, showing the entire NHL how great of a player he is.
Coming back from an injury is difficult, especially when it is a shoulder injury in a hitting league. The way Matthews was able to return to his former self is a very difficult thing to do for most players.
In his first six games back, he had six goals and 11 points, putting him at a total of 16 and 27 points in 17 games played. Despite his injury, Matthews was having one of the best starts in Leafs’ history.
For the rest of the reason, he never went more than three games without recording one point and had a multi-point game 22 times in 68 games.
Overall, he had 37 goals and 36 points for a new career high of 73 points in only 68 games.
Playoffs
Last season, Matthews did not perform well in the playoffs and sadly many Leafs fans turned on him. After producing only two points in seven games against the Boston Bruins, many Leafs fans thought of him as a choker even though in his rookie season he had four goals and five points in six games against the President’s Trophy winner, the Washington Capitals.
This season, however, Matthews was the Leafs best player in the playoffs. Despite losing to the Bruins in seven games, Matthews led the Leafs in goals and points. With five goals and six points, any doubts of whether or not he can perform in the playoffs should be nonexistent.
Overall
Matthews had a really good season and despite missing 14 games, he was the best player for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Despite not having his usual winger and set up man, William Nylander, with him, Matthews was able to adapt and perform with whoever Mike Babcock decided to play with him.
Because of Matthews, Kasperi Kapanen and Andreas Johnsson will both be getting solid raises this offseason, just like Matthews got his luxurious contract, which should be the most expensive contract on the Leafs’ cap.
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I personally am looking forward to what the Leafs’ future captain does next season, how about you?