Auston Matthews Now Vs Peak Mats Sundin?

[Contenderorpretender]

Lol what? The leafs had plenty of great wingers over the years.

I'll list notable wingers that played for Toronto at one point or another during sundin's leafs tenure.

Dave Andreychuk (219 pts in 223gp)
Mike Gartner (35 goal season)
Wendel Clark (30 goal in 65gp season)
Sergei Berezin (37 goal season)
Steve Thomas (73 point season)
Gary Roberts (almost ppg playoff player)
Alexander Mogilny (166pts in 176gp)
Owen Nolan (60 points in 79gp in dpe)

Not to mention often having a good 1-2 punch at center with guys like Doug Gilmour, Joe Nieuwendyk, Jason Allison, etc.

It's not like he had hacks with him. Toronto had one of the biggest payrolls. Not to mention ~hall of fame goalies in potvin, cujo and belfour which allowed them to focus more on offense when you have a trusted goalie.

What are you talking about? Andrechyuk played half that many games with sundin. Most of the people you named benefited by playing with sundin. Did you just add berezin to your list lol come on. Gardner Clark and nolan were all at the end of their careers. Not a single person you mentioned were elite including mogilny ( who was the only one to put up a ppg in one season) you also added jason f***ing allison.

 

[Pyrophorus]

Matthews. He's got a strong case as the top goal scorer in hockey, plus he's got a strong case for being a top 5 center in hockey. I don't think Sundin ever had a case for either of those things.

Mats peak though, is 114pts

 

[NyQuil]

Mats peak though, is 114pts

In the highest scoring season of the last 30 years. It was good for 11th in the NHL.

 

[SheldonJPlankton]

In 2018, Ovechkin finished in 11th place with 87 points...as a recent, pre-COVID comparison.

 

[jbeck5]

What are you talking about? Andrechyuk played half that many games with sundin. Most of the people you named benefited by playing with sundin. Did you just add berezin to your list lol come on. Gardner Clark and nolan were all at the end of their careers. Not a single person you mentioned were elite including mogilny ( who was the only one to put up a ppg in one season) you also added jason f***ing allison.

He was almost ppg with Toronto and almost ppg career...yes he was slow, but at this point youre being extremely picky. He had above average cast.

 

[The Beyonder]

I've watched both play, Matthews and it's not close. I think Matthews is gonna be in that Sakic, Yzerman and Foresberg tier when his career is over rather than Sundin. I think he's better than him now, for sure.

 

[thadd]

Sundin had very little to play with throughout the majority of his career, including his peak and he put up insane numbers. He was bigger, stronger and actually used his body. Let's not forget he put up very good numbers through the dead puck era.

 

[Rants Mulliniks]

Sundin had very little to play with throughout the majority of his career, including his peak and he put up insane numbers. He was bigger, stronger and actually used his body. Let's not forget he put up very good numbers through the dead puck era.

One of the more frustrating things about Sundin was actually NOT using his body. He used it insomuch as for cycling and possession but not much else.

 

[Pyrophorus]

Physicality is a wash or edge <Matthews

 

[4thline]

I see Sundin as a more physically gifted and likely longer tenured Tavares level player, with Matthews being a cut above

 

[CDJ]

Sundin played in a vastly different league so comparing points totals isn’t apples to apples

it’s a really good question though- I’ll say peak Sundin now but Matthews is likely to overtake peak Sundin

 

[Phil McKraken]

Matthews. But the impressive thing about Mats wasn't his peak as much as his constistency as an elite player. He was never the best player in the league, but for almost 20 years you could count on him to be among the 10-20 best.

 

[thadd]

One of the more frustrating things about Sundin was actually NOT using his body. He used it insomuch as for cycling and possession but not much else.

It wasn't frustrating at all. He was incredibly strong on the puck. There were not many "physical" 2nd generation Swedes in the NHL.

 

[ScaredStreit]

Matthews.

Sundin was great for a long time but his legacy is more about consistently great for a long time-his peak isn't as high as Matthews's.

 

[topshelf15]

Matthews looks like a young Stamkos,one of the best shooting centers we have seen is some time....Everytime he has it on his stick as an Ottawa fan Iam scared lol

 

[bobbyking]

In the highest scoring season of the last 30 years. It was good for 11th in the NHL.

dont worry these people probably think theres still 84 games a season

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

I saw Sundin at his peak, Matthews is without a doubt the better player

 

[4thline]

During his lockout to lockout (dead puck era) Leafs tenure, Sundin played his 23 -32 year old seasons. During that time he was 2nd in points and 1st in goals, among NHL centres, but tied for 5th with Modano in Points per game with Modano.

Offensively at C there was a pretty clear top tier of Sakic/Forsberg/Lindros/Gretzky (retired halfway through)
then a very very strong 2nd tier of
Modano/Sundin/Yzerman/Fedorov/Weight/Turgeon/Francis/Oates/Roenick.

Quick look shows that over that time Sundin's league wide point finishes were
1x top 5, 1x top 10, 3x top 20, 4x outside top 20, no major hardware.

Matthews is currently in his 1st season of that window.

Sundin was an excellent player, but his calling card was longevity and consistency.

 

[authentic]

Sundin had very little to play with throughout the majority of his career, including his peak and he put up insane numbers. He was bigger, stronger and actually used his body. Let's not forget he put up very good numbers through the dead puck era.

Matthews has thrown more hits this season than Sundin ever did. If you're talking about protecting the puck then Sundin was unreal at that.

 

[Rants Mulliniks]

It wasn't frustrating at all. He was incredibly strong on the puck. There were not many "physical" 2nd generation Swedes in the NHL.

It's incredibly frustrating when you have the frame to impose your will and you do not. Meanwhile the Brendan Gallagher's of the world go balls to the wall. May shorten your career but also tends to up your impact.

 

[Rants Mulliniks]

Matthews has thrown more hits this season than Sundin ever did. If you're talking about protecting the puck then Sundin was unreal at that.

Agreed.

As to the thread subject, in watching Sundin I don't think you would ever catch yourself thinking "I'm witnessing something I may never see again while cheering for this team". You would more likely say "I'm witnessing consistent greatness". With Matthews, you can already tell you are watching history unfold.

 

[Filthy Dangles]

I've watched both play, Matthews and it's not close. I think Matthews is gonna be in that Sakic, Yzerman and Foresberg tier when his career is over rather than Sundin. I think he's better than him now, for sure.

I agree. Those are big, big names and I don't think HF Boards will like that comparison but I seem him being on that level too.

 

[Mats13]

Mats Sundin is my favourite player ever

Auston Matthews is considerably better tho, it’s just the truth

 

[thadd]

It's incredibly frustrating when you have the frame to impose your will and you do not. Meanwhile the Brendan Gallagher's of the world go balls to the wall. May shorten your career but also tends to up your impact.

Different generation of hockey. Swedes on average play more physical style of game now than before.

 

[thadd]

Matthews has thrown more hits this season than Sundin ever did. If you're talking about protecting the puck then Sundin was unreal at that.

Yeah and part of protecting the puck is taking hits, fighting off hits, being used to other players constantly leaning on you. That's the existence he constantly lived long before anyone herd of the term obstruction interference. He was putting up tons of points during the worst of the neutral zone trap. Dude was a beauty.