Auston Matthews Discussion Thread

[Wafflewhipper]

Hopefully we make it far enough in the playoffs that Matthews can make the fans groan during away games.

We are the best road team too
Well we were last time i checked recently

 

[Petrus]

Sounded like you were saying that Matthews pacing for 60 goals might "tip the scale" when it comes to hart trophy votes, because it's only happened twice in the past decade. I responded by saying 144 points has happened zero times in the past decade.

Maybe I misunderstood, but I'm not sure where.

To put more context.

60 plus goal seasons have occurred 39 times in the NHL. 140 point seasons have occurred only 15 times.

This year we don’t know if McDavid and Matthews can sustain their current pace over a 82 game season.

 

[Stephen]

To put more context.

60 plus goal seasons have occurred 39 times in the NHL. 140 point seasons have occurred only 15 times.

This year we don’t know if McDavid and Matthews can sustain their current pace over a 82 game season.

In terms of raw point totals, I think you just have to give McDavid the W.

The flipside is I'm excited to see Matthews lead us deep into the playoffs in pursuit of a championship, and look forward to seeing him hit 50-60 goals in an 82 game season and reach 100 points himself.

 

[Wafflewhipper]

Just thought I would lay out some info on Matthews defensively against the other top centers out there, including those known for their D.

Getting sick of folks saying he's not somehow good defensively.

Defensive ranking of top centers in the game from 2018-today (data via natural stat trick):

Lowest 5v5 Shots Against/60:

1. Bergeron
2. O'Reilly
3. Couturier
4. Crosby
5. Mackinnon
6. Barzal
7. Kopitar
8. Matthews
9. Barkov
10. Eichel
11. Tavares
12. Larkin
13. McDavid
14. Draisaitl
15. Scheifele

Lowest 5v5 Shots Against/60 REL:

1. Couturier
2. Bergeron
3. Crosby
4. O'Reilly
5. Matthews
6. Larkin
7. Kopitar
8. Barzal
9. Mackinnon
10. Barkov
11. Eichel
12. Tavares
13. Scheifele
14. McDavid
15. Draisaitl

Lowest 5v5 High Danger Chances Against/60:

1. Bergeron
2. O'Reilly
3. Mackinnon
4. Matthews
5. Crosby
6. Couturier
7. Eichel
8. Barkov
9. Tavares
10. Kopitar
11. Barzal
12. Larkin
13. McDavid
14. Draisaitl
15. Scheifele

Lowest 5v5 High Danger Chances Against/60 REL:

1. Matthews
2. Eichel
3. Couturier
4. Crosby
5. Bergeron
6. Kopitar
7. Mackinnon
8. Barkov
9. O'Reilly
10. Larkin
11. Tavares
12. Barzal
13. Scheifele
14. McDavid
15. Draisaitl

Lowest 5v5 Expected Goals Against/60:

1. Bergeron
2. O'Reilly
3. Mackinnon
4. Couturier
5. Eichel
6. Crosby
7. Barzal
8. Matthews
9. Larkin
10. Tavares
11. Kopitar
12. Barkov
13. Draisaitl
14. McDavid
15. Scheifele

Lowest 5v5 Expected Goals Against/60 REL:

1. Bergeron
2. Couturier
3. Larkin
4. O'Reilly
5. Eichel
6. Crosby
7. Matthews
8. Mackinnon
9. Kopitar
10. Tavares
11. Barzal
12. Barkov
13. Scheifele
14. Draisaitl
15. McDavid

Takeaways/60:

1. Matthews
2. O'Reilly
3. Barkov
4. McDavid
5. Barzal
6. Draisaitl
7. Scheifele
8. Bergeron
9. Crosby
10. Tavares
11. Larkin
12. Mackinnon
13. Kopitar
14. Eichel
15. Couturier

Blocked Shots/60:

1. Matthews
2. Bergeron
3. Kopitar
4. Barkov
5. Eichel
6. Scheifele
7. Barzal
8. Tavares
9. Crosby
10. Larkin
11. Couturier
12. Mackinnon
13. O'Reilly
14. McDavid
15. Draisaitl

Yep one of the very best All disciplines players in the League on both sides of the puck.

 

[zeke]

To put more context.

60 plus goal seasons have occurred 39 times in the NHL. 140 point seasons have occurred only 15 times.

This year we don’t know if McDavid and Matthews can sustain their current pace over a 82 game season.

Your numbers are wrong tho.

60 goal seasons: 39
140 point seasons: 24

And using their actual current paces:

64 goal seasons: 25
144 point seasons: 21

 

[Petrus]

Your numbers are wrong tho.

60 goal seasons: 39
140 point seasons: 24

And using their actual current paces:

64 goal seasons: 25
144 point seasons: 21

There is reason why I rely on your stat posting!
I can’t be that way off! But I am happy to be corrected.

 

[zeke]

Another way to look at it would be to look at scoring Per Game for all players that played, say, at least 45gms in a season.

McDavid ranks 32nd in PPG there, Matthews ranks 41st in GPG.

 

[Mats13]

18 goals in his first 18 games

Then he hurt his wrist

Now in his last 17 he’s got 17 goals

Literally goal per game when healthy. Generational and possibly the best goal scorer ever (TBD) who’s been held back by Babcock and injuries

Greatest Maple Leaf of all time when it’s all said and done. No doubt in my mind.

 

[123offtheglass]

When's the last time the rocket winner had at least 38.6% more goals per game than the rocket runner up?

Pavel Bure in 1999-2000.

That's what Matthews is on pace for.

 

[ZEBROA]

Just pass him the puck! he can score from the stands, while buying a hot dog.

 

[cipher]

I posted this on the main board...

Highest Goals/GP rate since Lemieux in 2000-2001.

Through 47 games, the center is scoring at a rate of 0.809 goals per game, which would be the best in the NHL since 2000-01, when Mario Lemieux averaged 0.814 for the Pittsburgh Penguins. Alex Ovechkin averaged 0.793 for the Washington Capitals in 2007-08.

Matthews scores 38th goal to help Maple Leafs top Canucks

 

[Fogelhund]

McDAvid will win the Hart and that’s ok

Matthews can take solace in winning the Rocket and Conn Smyth.

 

[NorCalhockey]

Just pass him the puck! he can score from the stands, while buying a hot dog.

 

[Man Bear Pig]

Not sure why so many fans outside of Toronto care that hes not as good as McDavid. I don't give a shit if he's not. He's the best goal scorer in the world right now and that makes things a lot easier as far as winning a cup goes.

 

[Atomos2]

If he could keep this level of dominance in the playoffs...imagine the possibilities.

 

[BoredBrandonPridham]

Matthews has very unique movements. His skating is somewhat reminiscent of Forsberg with his quicks cuts and strength on the puck. Obviously very different players though. I've never really seen someone who's finishing can look quite as clean and automatic as Matthews. The movements are so polished that the goals seem like a formality sometimes.

Some examples.

He goes into the corner for the puck different than anyone I’ve seen. He usually pulls one move either with his stick, feet or body that immediately gains him advantage on the puck, even if he’s not the first into the corner.

He doesn’t just go in, pin and wait for support.

 

[zeke]

He goes into the corner for the puck different than anyone I’ve seen. He usually pulls one move either with his stick, feet or body that immediately gains him advantage on the puck, even if he’s not the first into the corner.

He doesn’t just go in, pin and wait for support.

Yeah it's crazy how good and unique he is at that

 

[Zybalto]

4 more goals to 200 in his career.

Does he do it before the season ends?

 

[Zybalto]

Love this stat:

Career Goals/60 all active players:
1. Matthews: 1.862
2. Ovi: 1.754
3. Stamkos: 1.621
4. Pasta: 1.583
5. Laine: 1.469

Career even-strength Goals/60 all active players:
1. Matthews: 1.651
2. Ovi: 1.435
3. Stamkos: 1.275
4. Vrana: 1.266
5. McDavid: 1.263

Matthews has more career even-strength goals/60 than any other active player has career even strength+PP goals/60 except for Ovi.

 

[zeke]

Of All seasons NHL history, minimum 45 games played:

McDavid - #28 ppg season at 1.78
Matthews - #31 gpg season at 0.81

Both are the best in 25 years - in 95/96 Lemieux had .99gpg and 2.30ppg, and jagr had 1.82ppg.

 

[sIDEsHOW93]

4 more goals to 200 in his career.

Does he do it before the season ends?

Yes. He will also do it before McDavid does.

 

[BoredBrandonPridham]

Of All seasons NHL history, minimum 45 games played:

McDavid - #28 ppg season at 1.78
Matthews - #31 gpg season at 0.81

Both are the best in 25 years - in 95/96 Lemieux had .99gpg and 2.30ppg, and jagr had 1.82ppg.

Really wish we had 5v5 vs PP for that era. I suspect it brings these players closer than the per-game stats suggest.

 

[ACC1224]

4 more goals to 200 in his career.

Does he do it before the season ends?

1000%. He and Marner are rolling

 

[The Hanging Jowl]

Love this stat:

Career Goals/60 all active players:
1. Matthews: 1.862
2. Ovi: 1.754
3. Stamkos: 1.621
4. Pasta: 1.583
5. Laine: 1.469

Career even-strength Goals/60 all active players:
1. Matthews: 1.651
2. Ovi: 1.435
3. Stamkos: 1.275
4. Vrana: 1.266
5. McDavid: 1.263

Matthews has more career even-strength goals/60 than any other active player has career even strength+PP goals/60 except for Ovi.

He's inarguably the best goal scorer in the world right now. Love this guy. Easily my favourite player since Clark and Gilmour. I'm too young to know how good Keon, Mahovlich and guys like that were but I did grow up on Sittler, McDonald and Salming and of course all of the guys since. In my hockey viewing life, Matthews is it, he's our most talented player.

 

[123offtheglass]

good territory, goal scoring was also significantly higher during those seasons.