What??? Eichel has never had better line mates than Matthews.
Eichel played with Olofsson and Reinhart as his most frequent linemates last season.
Eichel played with Jeff Skinner and Reinhart as his most frequent linemates in 2018-19.
Eichel played with Evander Kane and Reinhart as his most frequent linemates in 2017-18.
Eichel played with Marcus Foligno/Moulson/Kane/Okposo and Reinhart as his most frequent linemates in 2016-17.
Eichel played with Evander Kane and Reinhart as his most frequent linemates in 2015-16.
Sam Reinhart goals/point totals:
2015-16:23/ 42 P in 79 games
2016-17: 17/ 47 P in 79 games
2017-18: 25/ 50 P in 82 games
2018-19: 22/ 65 P in 82 games
2019-20: 22/ 50 P in 69 games
2015-16 Evander Kane totals (g/points): 20 G 35 Points in 65 games
2016-17 Foligno/Kane/Okposo/ Moulson: 74 G 143 Points in 296 games
2017-18 Evander Kane: 20 G 40 Points in 60 games
2018-19 Jeff Skinner: 40 G 63 Points in 82 games
2019-20 Victor Olofsson 20 G 42 Points in 54 games
Totals: Sam Reinhart to date: 109 Goals 254 Points in 391 games (82 game average 23 goals and 53 points)
Totals of the rest of the players: 174 Goals 323 Points in 557 games (82 game average 26 goals and 48 points)
Totals: 283 Goals 577 Points in 948 games (82 game average 25 Goals 50 Points)
Auston played with Zach Hyman and William Nylander as his most frequent linemates in 2016-17.
Auston played with Zach Hyman and William Nylander/ Connor Brown as his most frequent linemates in 2017-18.
Auston played with Kasperi Kapanen and Patrick Marleau/ Andreas Johnsson as his most frequent linemates in 2018-19.
Auston played with Andreas Johnsson/Hyman and Mitchell Marner as his most frequent linemates in 2019-20.
Zach Hyman 2016/17/18 totals: 25 Goals 68 Points in 164 games
Connor Brown 2017-18 totals: 14 Goals 28 Points in 82 games
William Nylander 2016/17/18 totals: 42 Goals 122 Points in 163 games
Kapanen 2018-19 totals: 20 Goals 44 Points in 78 games
Marleau/ AJ combo 2018-19 totals: 36 Goals 80 Points in 155 games
AJ/Hyman 2019-20 totals: 29 Goals 58 Points in 84 games
Mitchell Marner 2019-20 totals: 16 Goals 67 Points in 59 games
Totals: 182 Goals 467 Points in 785 games (82 game average 19 Goals 49 Points)
Without Marner Totals: 166 Goals 400 Points 726 games (82 game average 19 Goals 45 Points)
PPP
Eichel 40 G and 78 Assists for 118 Points in 354 games (82 game average 9 Goals 27 Points)
Matthews 37 Goals 42 Assists for 79 Points in 282 games (82 game average 11 Goals 23 Points)
Auston to this point in his career has done more with less on his line. Consistently under Babcock he would have to carry rookies like Nylander, Hyman, Kapanen, Brown and Johnsson. And a grizzled old vet in Marleau. This season was the first season he got to play with a PPG+ talent in Mitch Marner and even that didn't happen until half way through the season when Babcock started to get desperate and shake things up.
Eichel has a shittier team around him, I would absolutely agree to that. However, when it comes to having capable legitimate 1st line/ top 6 talent on his wings, the Sabres have done their best with the exception of one season to give him that. Matthews had the luxury of Nylander in a familiar face in his first 2 seasons but thanks to Nylander's holdout, he's been stumbling around with a revolving door of linemates since 2 years ago. This past season he had some stability. Eichel has had the luxury of having Reinhart on his line every single season and agree or not, he's not a terrible player for a former 2nd overall pick and he's a player that plays a solid 2 way game with good offensive ability who Eichel is comfortable playing with. If Matthews had the luxury of guys like Kane, Olofsson and Skinner who are capable goal scorers, his assist totals would definitely see a 5-10 points spike and we would be looking at a guy who's putting up close to 100-105 points over 82 games instead of one that was pacing for about 93-95, while still potting 50 goals. Eichel as great as he is simply doesn't have the ability to pot 50 and 100 points while playing with middle 6 talent. And this is before we discuss PPP.