Through 30 games, Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews has 28 goals, and is almost scoring at a goal per game pace, but for some reason, it's not being talked about like some of his other seasons.
There is a real chance that the Toronto Maple Leafs best ever player scores 50 goals in 50 games. I know he's done it before, but it wasn't the first 50 games, so it wasn't as praised as it should have been, but this potential record should be. We are witnessing one of the best goal-scorers of all-time play for our favorite team, yet we take it for granted.
And, I can't even be mad about it.
I am one of the sheep in the herd that are also taking it for granted. Every Leafs game I watch this year, I suspect that he's going to score, and more likely expect him to score a big goal in the third period when the game is on the line. If it wasn't for his unbelievable performance thus far, the Leafs wouldn't be a playoff team.
Matthews Is Having a Hart Trophy Season for the Toronto Maple Leafs
It's incredible how easy he makes it look every night and we should be all be grateful he signed an extension to play for our beloved Leafs.
In 74 games last season, Matthews only scored 40 goals, which was a huge down-year for him, whihc is hilarious. If you watch TSN's OverDrive, Jeff O'Neill speaks about his one 40-goal season like he's a God, yet that was a bad year for Matthews, who was reportedly injured for a lot of the season.
With a healthy wrist and motivation to beat Connor McDavid once again for the Hart Trophy, Matthews is proving that he's once again one of the best, or the best, player in the NHL.
As it currently stands, Matthews is still 12-1 to win the Hart Trophy this year, with Nikita Kucherov, Connor McDavid, David Pastrnak, Jack Hughes and Nathan MacKinnon ahead of him. If Matthews keeps up this goal pace, that has to change immediately because he's clearly the heart and soul of this Leafs team.
Maybe I'm a bias Leafs fan but I truly think that Matthews should be favorited more than those guys and deserves to be in the running again as he is on pace to have a similar, if not better year than his 60 goal, 106 point campaign in 2021-22.
All I'm trying to say is that this season could be a disaster if Matthews wasn't on the team and we should be all be happy for his play each and every game