The Toronto Maple Leafs put an end to their losing streak last night.
Or the Toronto Maple Leafs are on a five game losing streak.
Either way – I wrote this before the game – Auston Matthews probably did something amazing last night.
The guy is unreal, and we are lucky to have him on the Leafs.
Toronto Maple Leafs and Auston Matthews
Since the NHL expanded beyond six teams, the Leafs have never had a Best Player in the NHL type player.
As much as we love Clark, Gilmour, Sundin, Kaberle, Sittler, McDonald, Mogilny, Tavares or Marner, they were always B-level superstars.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have and have had star players, but they never had a Gretzky, a Lemieux, a Crosby, or a McDavid.
Until now.
Auston Matthews is the first player the Leafs have had post-original six that is a generational, all-time player.
He’s easily the best player in franchise history by talent alone.
Every game he does something insane. So far this year he tried a lacrosse style goal twice, and once he called an audible for the nicest assist anyone in the NHL has had this year.
On Friday he tipped a puck that was going five feet wide into the net in a play that must be seen and not described.
And he’s putting together quite the season, even thought the team’s woes are kind of putting a damper on it.
So far this year he has 14 goals and 27 points in 21 games. (hockeydb.com).
Matthews is sixth in total scoring and 3rd in goals.
At 5v5 he is 3rd in goals and 5th in points.
He’s putting up over 3 points/60 (Nylander is top 30 too, with 2.6/60). (Anything over 2 is a first line player, anything over 2.5 is an elite player). (All stats naturalstattrick.com).
Matthews 57% CF is better than all the players ahead of him on the scoring leader boards. When Matthews is on the ice 11% of the shots turn into goals, McDavid is getting 13%, Marchand is getting 15% as is Draisaitl.
So while Matthews is slightly below these guys on the goals and points charts, he’s also not getting the same puck-luck, and he’s playing on a team that has the 17th most power-play goals in the league. He is posting better possession stats too.
And with Tavares and Marner taking turns being injured, Matthews hasn’t had the fortunate matchups to exploit that will eventually be available to him.
A little uptick in his on-ice shooting percentage and the Toronto Maple Leafs power play, and Auston Matthews can challenge for the league lead in goals and points.
His current pace – which the numbers suggest will improve – is 56 goals and 105 points.
Not to shabby, but still just scratching the surface of his potential.