Auston Matthews 69 goals in 81 games, most goals scored since Lemieux in 1995-96

[Arthur Morgan]

It's all about longevity and durability at this point. I doubt anyone can match Ovechkin's beast mode in this area though. And I bet Ovi plays a few more years than he planned after he gets the record just to tie a bow on it forever.

it might not have to be though depending how Matthews prime goes. if Matthews can put up a few more seasons of 60 or more as he ages he may not have to score 50 as many times as OV did.

 

[The Hanging Jowl]

Incredible regular season player. If there was a regular season hall of fame he would be first ballot.

How can Leaf fans sit here and actually claim he is one of the greatest players ever when he has made it out of the first round one time. Sad

You realize everyone said the same type of things about Ovechkin before he finally won a Cup, right?

 

[MCR74]

Matthews greatest skill appears to be turning posters' brains into tapioca. Some of the takes in this thread should result in bans they are so bad.

Safe to say that their brains were tapioca well before Matthews went on a tear.

 

[Rants Mulliniks]

Incredible player that has a real chance to become the greatest goal scorer in NHL history. Makes people overlook that he's also a complete defensively solid hockey player. So many haters will miss witnessing and enjoying one of the greatest hockey players of our time because their immature leafs hatred.

Funny thing is even a lot of Leaf fans don't realize what they have. For a few years I've been pointing out that while, yes, you 100% want playoff results, don't let it blind you to missing out on the enjoyment of witnessing something special. I imagine having the perspective of years helps. I lived all of the Harold Ballard years and I realize full well that I will likely never see another period with not just one player achieving fantastic things but actually several at the same time. Definitely want better playoff results but there's a lot of fun to be had along the way that I would bet most Leaf fans will never see again in their lifetimes.

 

[PaulD]

This is another thing. The league today is far better and far more talented than the NHL in the 80s. The influx of Russians and a majority of European players and the increase of elite American players skyrocketed the depth of talent in the league, not to mention the vast improvement in goaltending and overall defense. Dominating the NHL today is objectively harder.

Though this applies more to Gretzky, Bossy, etc. than Lemieux of course

There were 21 teams when Gretz and Bossy were ripping it up. 32 teams now. So there is a ton of room Flux of Euros and American players.
Everyone had a great top six back then Every team has a great top six today are plugs......4th line bac then were plugs. 4th line today are plugs.
All relative with expansion.

 

[Rants Mulliniks]

Incredible regular season player. If there was a regular season hall of fame he would be first ballot.

How can Leaf fans sit here and actually claim he is one of the greatest players ever when he has made it out of the first round one time. Sad

He basically already is a HOFer at 26.

What were your thoughts on Mario Lemieux making it past the first round once in his first 6 years?

 

[Skinnyjimmy08]

He better get 2 more goals... I wanna see 70 from him.

I don't see how he doesn't accomplish this. 2 more goals in 3 remaining games should be easy peasy for him

 

[therocket9]

Exactly how many 5 on 3 pps have the Leafs received this year? How many 5 on 3 goals does Matthews have?

The man has 50 even strength goals for chirst sake. Cope more.

Name me one time where someone has jumped on Matthews back like Kasparitus did to Lemiuex name me one time where someone has actually body checked him.....softest time in nhl history...period...case closed.

 

[Razz]

It's fascinating to me how worked up folks get about Matthews. I do see why. He's a hard player to compare against. There's been nothing like him before, and he's not all that flashy either.

Matthews doesn't have explosive speed and he rarely if ever scores on breakaways. He doesn't play a very physical game either.

There's no flash to his game like MacKinnon or McDavid. Most of the time he just evades or strips pucks from guys, dishes it and then moves into an open area for a pass and scores with an insane release. That's it. It's sort of like he mostly scores playing defensive hockey.

I think when all is said and done, he'll be known as one of if not the greatest even-strength player of all time.

 

[Arthur Morgan]

Name me one time where someone has jumped on Matthews back like Kasparitus did to Lemiuex name me one time where someone has actually body checked him.....softest time in nhl history...period...case closed.

so that means what exactly?

 

[Rants Mulliniks]

Today's nhl has never been easier to score goals league has never been softer no clutch and grab no holding up at the blue line way more 5-3 PP and of course 3-3 OT.

From 1979 to 1996, 10 times out of 16 seasons (there was a shortened one in there) there were between 8 and 14 people scored 50+ goals every year.

Literally 63% of the time over 16 seasons you saw a minimum of 8 players record 50+ goals and a maximum of 14.

There are currently 4 players at 50.

I assume you are young?

 

[MCR74]

so that means what exactly?

Means absolutely nothing. People are well past the point of grasping now.

 

[Hockey Outsider]

Here's some statistical trivia - Matthews has the 2nd most even strength goals (behind Ovechkin) going back to November 1st, 2011. That's pretty impressive considering he didn't make his debut until almost five years into that timeframe (October 12th, 2016).

 

[BraveCanadian]

Here's some statistical trivia - Matthews has the 2nd most even strength goals (behind Ovechkin) going back to November 1st, 2011. That's pretty impressive considering he didn't make his debut until almost five years into that timeframe (October 12th, 2016).

Matthews is dynamite at ES. After leading again this year isn't he already in 2nd place all time for the number of times leading in ES scoring to Hull?

Seems like a safe bet he's going to get to the top of that category too.

 

[Ukki]

the greatest goal-scorer of this century so far

 

[Perfect_Drug]

Good player. Wish he wasn't a Leaf so I could cheer for him.

 

[LivingRentFree]

So you set the record straight on the Reinhart comparisons only to immediately turn around push the lie that "Leafs fans" think Matthews is comparable to Mario.

No, they don't.

One poster was referring to what would happen if Mario was playing today and believed their goal scoring would be similar. All the other posts - like how Mario's greatest goal-scoring season is one ahead of Matthews' current season - are all related to, you guessed it, goal scoring.

He is legitimately trying to bait some leafs fans into saying it, likely for screenshots.

Mario is the greatest of all time in my opinion. Matthews is the best Leaf of all time, and still isn’t in the same galaxy as Mario.

 

[winnipegger]

He is going to get PAID on his next contract. Wow

 

[LivingRentFree]

Good player. Wish he wasn't a Leaf so I could cheer for him.

You still can. I am a Leafs fan that can still appreciate players on rival teams. I own a Guy Lafleur jersey, Price as well. (Both autographed)

 

[The90]

pretty sure u said he was a 1c which he really wasnt is what im saying and bozak was never a real 1c which is why i used him as an example.
it shouldnt be an argument anyways. just because someone is the best a team has doesnt mean hes a true 1c

I literally don’t think I could be any more clear about this lol

You do you

 

[Richard]

Hate the Leafs - would love to see him hit 70. It's good for the game

 

[leafsfan5]

Here's some statistical trivia - Matthews has the 2nd most even strength goals (behind Ovechkin) going back to November 1st, 2011. That's pretty impressive considering he didn't make his debut until almost five years into that timeframe (October 12th, 2016).

He will likely end up as the greatest even strength goal scorer of all time when it's done

Needs to lead the league in even strength goals once more to match the record by Bobby Hull (6)

 

[666]

Either the Leafs suck and Matthews is one the greatest or the Leafs are amazing and Matthews isn't.
Some of you can't have it both ways.

 

[MCR74]

Either the Leafs suck and Matthews is one the greatest or the Leafs are amazing and Matthews isn't.
Some of you can't have it both ways.

I love how the narrative changes on a dime.

 

[Strangle]

Domi has been a huge missing piece the leafs have needed for so long. But that Dubas guy seemed destined on a super soft team. Now the leafs have fixed a lot of their issues.

Fix the defense and they are a serious serious threat.

The boomers were right again!

I remember when Jamie Benn won the scoring title with 87 points

This is what era adjusting morons try to normalize NHL talent to as well

It’s so stupid