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6 Burning Questions Ahead of 2022-23 Toronto Maple Leafs Season

By Stephen Nixon

Mar 1, 2022; Tampa, Florida, USA; Ottawa Senators goaltender Matt Murray (30) makes a save against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the first period at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 1, 2022; Tampa, Florida, USA; Ottawa Senators goaltender Matt Murray (30) makes a save against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the first period at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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Toronto Maple Leafs
TAMPA, FLORIDA – JUNE 21: Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leaf . (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

No. 2: Can Auston Matthews Replicate His 2021-22 Hart Trophy?

Here’s Matthews’ 2021-22 stats:

  • 73 games played: 60 goals and 106 points

The easiest assumption is that Matthews regresses after his Hart Trophy season. It seems pretty unlikely that he’ll score 60 goals again and outlast someone like Connor McDavid for the league’s MVP award.

However, I think Matthews is only getting better and he’s only going to improve for the next few seasons.

For example, over the past three years, here’s how he’s progressed in his goal scoring abilities, based off an 82-game pace:

  • 2019-20 season: 47 goals in 70 games (55-goal pace)
  • 2020-21 season: 41 goals in 52 games (65-goal pace)
  • 2021-22 season: 60 goals in 73 games (67-goal pace) – (stats: hockeydb.com)

Matthews missed nine games last year due to injury, which means his Hart Trophy year could have been even better.

I’m not saying he’s going to score 70 goals next year, but don’t be shocked if he scores 60 again and puts up even more points than last year. If can play all 82-games, Matthews is set to become a candidate for the Hart Trophy once again.

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