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Toronto Maple Leafs: Matthews Is Reliving Ovechkin’s 07-08 Season

By Stephen Nixon

WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 17: Auston Matthews #34 of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates past Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals in the third period at Capital One Arena on October 17, 2017 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 17: Auston Matthews #34 of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates past Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals in the third period at Capital One Arena on October 17, 2017 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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Toronto Maple Leafs centre Auston Matthews is currently reliving Alex Ovechkin’s 2007-08 Hart Trophy season.

Auston Matthews is leading the Toronto Maple Leafs to one of their best regular seasons in team history, but for some reason, it hasn’t felt that way in the marketplace.

Maybe it’s because the pandemic is still going on and we’ve been more focused on watching games with limited fans. Or, it’s the fact that this team has lost so many times in the playoffs that we take regular seasons for granted.

However, whatever the reason is, Matthews doesn’t seem to get the love that he’s deserving of.

Every time you turn on a Leafs game, or are lucky enough to watch in-person, you should be thankful that a few ping pong balls went Toronto’s way and they were able to secure the No. 1 overall selection in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.

If you don’t think Matthews is a generational talent, you’re insane, because his goal-scoring consistency over the past few years is the greatest thing the NHL has seen, since Alex Ovechkin.

Speaking of Ovechkin, Matthews is currently replicating his 2007-08 season, where he won his first, of now three, Hart Trophies.

Matthews Is Having Hart Trophy Season

When you look at the stats, it’s crazy how similar Ovechkin’s 2007-08 campaign is, compared to Matthews’ current season.

Matthews still has 30 games left, so a lot can change, but his 82-game pace is almost identical to what Ovechkin did that year, and we haven’t really seen a season like that since.

Auston Mathews:

  • 36 goals, 64 points (48 games played)
  • 62 goal pace, 110 point pace (Based off 82 game pace)
  • 1st in NHL Goals Scored, 4th in NHL Points
  • 24 Even Strength Goals (66 percent), 12 Power Play Goals (44 percent)
  • 16.6 shooting percentage (versus a 16.3 career shooting percentage)
  • 20:37 TOI
  • 59 takeaways, 3rd in NHL (stats: hockeyreference.com)

Alex Ovechkin:

  • 65 Goals, 112 Points (82 games played)
  • 43 Even Strength Goals (66 percent), 22 Power Play Goals (44 percent)
  • 1st in NHL Goals Scored, 1st in NHL Points
  • 14.6 percent shooting (versus a 12.2 career shooting percentage)
  • 23:06 TOI
  • 220 hits (stats: hockeyreference.com)

Matthews is currently nine points back of first place in total points, so that’ll be hard to catch, but he’s essentially having the exact same season in every other category that Ovechkin excelled in.

The Toronto Maple Leafs superstar is on a similar pace for goals, points and is doing it all while playing three minutes less per night. Imagine if Sheldon Keefe had Matthews on the ice for the full two minutes of every power-play?

He could be doing even more damage that what he currently is doing.

If you’re a gambler, depending where you look, Matthews has the fifth worst odds to win the Hart Trophy at (+700, $100 bet pays $800). Ahead of him are Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Jonathan Huberdeau and Ovechkin.

The Edmonton Oilers are barely a playoff team so McDavid and Draisaitl may not get as many votes, while Huberdeau doesn’t have enough goals despite leading the league in scoring on a top-three team to be considered a winner.

Next. Can Michael Bunting Win Calder?. dark

Ovechkin, in my opinion, is the only real candidate to knock Matthews off his ledge, but if Matthews can win the Maurice Rocket Richard Trophy, score over 100 points, all while playing exceptional defensive hockey, I think it’s his to win.

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