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Toronto Maple Leafs Fans Under-Appreciate Auston Matthews

By Stephen Nixon

TORONTO, CANADA - MAY 2: Auston Matthews #34 of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates against the Florida Panthers during Game One of the Second Round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on May 2, 2023 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Panthers defeated the Maple Leafs 4-2. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO, CANADA - MAY 2: Auston Matthews #34 of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates against the Florida Panthers during Game One of the Second Round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on May 2, 2023 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Panthers defeated the Maple Leafs 4-2. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /
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Can we take a second to thank our lucky stars that Auston Matthews has been on the Toronto Maple Leafs for the past seven years?

Imagine if the Toronto Maple Leafs lost the NHL Draft Lottery and picked second, instead? The team would have been stuck with Patrik Laine, who probably would’ve been traded by now, similar to what happened in Winnipeg.

They would have drafted a player that could still score 40 goals per season, but they wouldn’t have acquired a future Hall-of-Famer, like they did with Matthews.

Take a minute and think about that for a second. Not only will Matthews end up in the Hockey Hall of Fame, but more likely than not, so will his linemate Mitch Marner.

The Leafs don’t produce Hall-of-Famers every day and over the past 20 years, it’s really only been Mats Sundin who’s been inducted in the most prestigious place in hockey, who’s been a long-time member with the Leafs. Sure, there have been players who have passed by for a few seasons, but nobody’s spent their majority of their career in Toronto, like Marner and Matthews have.

Is Matthews the most underappreciated superstar in hockey right now?

After winning the Hart Trophy and Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy (twice), Matthews just went away. He had a “down-year” with 40 goals and 85 points, but was overshadowed by Connor McDavid, Leon Drasaitl and even Matthew Tkachuk, as he played through multiple injuries.

This is a player who scored 60 goals the year prior and 41 in 52 games in 2021, but out of nowhere, it feels like he wasn’t talked about in the same breath as some of the other players.

Toronto Maple Leafs: Matthews Will Be Hart Trophy Nominee Next Year

I know that McDavid is in a class of his own, but there’s no reason to believe that Matthews won’t score 50-60 goals again this year, register 100 points and lead the Leafs to the Atlantic Division title, all while being one of the best defensive forwards in hockey.

Marner received the love this year with his Selke Trophy nomination, but Matthews is just as good defensively, especially with his stick lifts and ability to take the puck away. Overall, Matthews is everything you hoped you’d get from a No. 1 overall draft pick and has delivered in every aspect.

If you want to bash him for the playoff results, just think again. He has 22 goals and 44 points in 50 career playoff games and has been incredibly unlucky in a few situations. He’s given us huge game-winning goals like in Game 5 against Tampa Bay in 2022 and scored an overtime winning goal in the biggest comeback in Leafs playoff history, when they were down 3-0 in the third to Columbus.

Matthews delivers when it matters, but continues to be overlooked because of this pessimistic fanbase. The majority of Leafs fans needs one of the devices from the movie Independence Day to wipe out all their previous feelings because watching Matthews is one of the greatest players in Leafs history. .

Next. Leafs Player Grades 2022-23. dark

Just wait, but Matthews will win the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy again this year and once again be nominated for the Hart Trophy. Life as a Leafs fan isn’t that bad.

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