Toronto Maple Leafs: Comparing Auston Matthews to Alex Ovechkin

Over the last 30 years, the NHL has got to see one of, if not the best pure goal scorer in the league history in Alex Ovechkin.  Toronto Maple Leafs fan are being treated to someone very similar in talent in Auston Matthews.

The Toronto Maple Leafs star center looks to be taking over from Ovehckin as the best sniper in today’s league and the two share a lot of similarities.

To start things off, both share the same birthday of September 17, with Ovechkin being 12 years older.  Because of the date of birth, they both fell two days shy of being eligible to being drafted one season sooner and as such had two wait a year to join the NHL.

Ovehckin would get hit even harder early in his career as did he not just miss out an NHL season by being two days too young, but after being drafted the league had an entire year stoppage, which caused him to miss another season.

Almost every player in league history has had some sort obstacles to overcome whether it be injuries, work stoppages or a coach that does not give them the playing time which Ovechkin was no different.  However, you have to wonder if “The Great Eight” was two days older and didn’t miss a year and a half due to lockouts, along with the COVID shutdowns how close he would be to 1,000 career goals.

Matthews has also had to overcome the COVID shutdowns, along with injuries that Ovechkin did not have to deal with.

Toronto Maple Leafs Auston Matthews has a lot of similarities to Alex Ovechkin

Through their age 25 seasons, both players have very similar numbers.  Matthews has played just six more games than Ovechkin at 481 to 475.

The numbers get a lot more close at that point of his career as both players took home the Calder Trophy, as well as being named to their All-Rookie Teams in their first seasons.

The similarities continue on as Ovehckin had collected 301 goals compared to Matthews registering 299 through their age 25 season.  They had each won a pair of Rocket Richard Trophy’s, while Ovechkin had won a pair of Hart Trophy’s and three Lester B Pearson/Ted Lindsay awards, while Matthews had won just one of each.

When it comes to playoff appearances, Matthews had made the playoffs in each of his first seven seasons, while Ovechkin missed the postseason in two of his first six.  The Toronto Maple Leafs star had made it out of the first round just once, while Ovechkin mastered the feat twice.  However, neither player had found a way to get to the Conference Final by the time they were 25.

Matthews still has a long way to go to reach the accolades that Ovechkin has received including a Stanley Cup and another 500-goals, but he is well on his way.