2021 Toronto Maple Leafs Regular Season Forward Grades

Auston Matthews

While recovering from a bout of Covid that he had last summer, and overcoming some of the worst facial hair in the history of humanity, Auston Matthews had a season for the ages and was nominated for the Hart, though there is no chance he wins.

Scoring goals  at a rate note seen since Mario Lemieux’s prime, Matthews finished the year with 41 goals in 52 games, and is only not going to win the Hart Trophy because his historic season coincides with Connor McDavid scoring over 100 points in 56 games.

Does it matter that Matthews is superior at defense, than goals are more important than assists, that the Leafs do better with Matthews on the ice that Edmonton does with McDavid on the ice?

It really doesn’t. McDavid is on an other level.  He was scoring like three points per game as the season wound down, and the fact is that Matthews plays on a team that would still have a chance at a Stanley Cup without him.  McDavid’s Oilers are basically an expansion team without him.

Final totals for Matthews: 41 goals, 54% Corsi, 65% goals-for.   Insane.

He’s the best player in the history of the Toronto Maple Leafs and his ability to score nearly a goal per game in this era makes him one of the best humans to ever put on a pair of skates.  I hope that he’s at this level, healthy, and playing 82 games next year because I’d like to see how close he can come to scoring 80 goals.  I don’t it’s more of a longshot that he plays a full 82 than him scoring a goal every game, if healthy. Only a wrist injury stopped him from potentially scoring 56 this year.