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

[Donner]

Incredible season.

But 38 assists is hilarious. I hadnt looked at his point totals in a while, so seeing he was closing in on 70 goals I thought hed be within striking distance of the points lead. Nope

Draisaitl has 2 less points and has been a less than spectacular season for him

No slight to Matthews, hes been a top 5 player in the league for sure and his underlying metrics back that up, but only 38 assists is crazy low for a player like him. Puts him tied for 78th in the league with the likes of Matias Maccelli

 

[MCR74]

I agree, f*** era adjusting arguments

Score the goals or stfu. Don’t whine about how ‘hard’ it is waaahhhhh

Can a mod reopen this thread please?

Tim Stutzle vs Auston Matthews Contracts Included

Which player would you take, contracts included? Stutzle: 78 GP 39 G 51 A 90 points, 8 years x 8.350 million beyond this year Matthews: 74 GP 40 G 45 A 85 points, 4 years x 13.25 million beyond this year.

forums.hfboards.com

A HF favorite.

 

[Sypher04]

Incredible season.

But 38 assists is hilarious. I hadnt looked at his point totals in a while, so seeing he was closing in on 70 goals I thought hed be within striking distance of the points lead. Nope

Draisaitl has 2 less points and has been a less than spectacular season for him

No slight to Matthews, hes been a top 5 player in the league for sure and his underlying metrics back that up, but only 38 assists is crazy low for a player like him. Puts him tied for 78th in the league with the likes of Matias Maccelli

Matthews doesn't collect many secondary assists. There are several reasons for this, some within his control, and some more to do with the way the team is being coached imo.

 

[The Hanging Jowl]

I think the most impressive thing about his season is that despite the ridiculous goal scoring, he's not sacrificing defense to do it. Throughout the game's history, guys that score goals like this almost all cheated in their own end a little bit, and he doesn't.

He's having an MVP-caliber season, and he'd be a worthy winner of it if this wasn't an all-timer of a race for the award this year.

This is a great way to put it. To the haters: for all you know Matthews will play for your team one day. What then?

 

[blundluntman]

Folks, we need to stop romanticizing/simping over the older generation when it come to these types of things.

Of course Lemieux IS a better player than Matthews, and of course he'd put up monster numbers in any NHL era.

BUT...and say it with me...he would not be scoring 70+ goals consistently in the NHL in the Salary Cap era.

Ovechkin and Matthews are athletic freaks that have every best tool a goal scorer needs, and they'll never hit 70 multiple times.

Everyone references Lemieux 1995-1996 season, just look at these goals he scored, I wish goalies were like that now lol.

I won't pretend every single one of those goals would go in nowadays, but around 80-90% are all replicable today. Mario's shot arsenal was absolutely elite and he could roof shots top shelf in extremely close range. His wrist/snap shot is 100% beating goalies clean in 2024. Matthews and Ovi are athletic freaks, but Mario is an even bigger freak/specimen than both no questions asked. He was 6'4, 235 lbs with a reach that was long even for his height, strong as an ox, deceptively fast and arguably a better playmaker than goalscorer which made him a dual threat and meant he could create space to score much more efficiently than Ovi and Matthews. You saw what McDavid did last year with a much worse shot arsenal because of his hockey IQ and dual threat ability, Mario is doing that very consistently during his prime without injuries. He's definitely putting up at least a couple of 70 goal seasons during his peak. Maybe not every year but he'd at least hit 70 3 times. Mario with no obstruction and a two-line pass is creating offense at a level we haven't seen in 30 years no doubt about it.

Anyways, what Matthews is doing this year is extremely impressive and we're lucky to have someone like him come and pick up the torch from Ovi. People need to appreciate how special of a goalscorer he truly is.

 

[Faceboner]

One of the greatest goal scorers of all time and the peanut gallery is still caught up on his defensive game

I don't why as a Sabres fan who hates the leafs he is a top 5 player his defense went from overrated to underrated

 

[BraveCanadian]

Folks, we need to stop romanticizing/simping over the older generation when it come to these types of things.

Of course Lemieux IS a better player than Matthews, and of course he'd put up monster numbers in any NHL era.

BUT...and say it with me...he would not be scoring 70+ goals consistently in the NHL in the Salary Cap era.

Ovechkin and Matthews are athletic freaks that have every best tool a goal scorer needs, and they'll never hit 70 multiple times.

Everyone references Lemieux 1995-1996 season, just look at these goals he scored, I wish goalies were like that now lol.

Lemieux would crush it in this era, get real. His size, wingspan, and hands in an era that hardly anyone can touch him?

Athletic freaks like beer belly Ovechkin aren't proving much.

 

[MCR74]

This is a great way to put it. To the haters: for all you know Matthews will play for your team one day. What then?

31 teams would kill for Matthews to hit the market right now. That's a damn fact.

 

[Salsa Shark]

Incredible season.

But 38 assists is hilarious. I hadnt looked at his point totals in a while, so seeing he was closing in on 70 goals I thought hed be within striking distance of the points lead. Nope

Draisaitl has 2 less points and has been a less than spectacular season for him

No slight to Matthews, hes been a top 5 player in the league for sure and his underlying metrics back that up, but only 38 assists is crazy low for a player like him. Puts him tied for 78th in the league with the likes of Matias Maccelli

That's an ill informed take. Only 4 players have been 70-70 (what he'd need to be near the 145ish points Kuch will score)

 

[X66]

I won't pretend every single one of those goals would go in nowadays, but around 80-90% are all replicable today. Mario's shot arsenal was absolutely elite and he could roof shots top shelf in extremely close range. His wrist/snap shot is 100% beating goalies clean in 2024. Matthews and Ovi are athletic freaks, but Mario is an even bigger freak/specimen than both no questions asked. He was 6'4, 235 lbs with a reach that was long even for his height, strong as an ox, deceptively fast and arguably a better playmaker than goalscorer which made him a dual threat and meant he could create space to score much more efficiently than Ovi and Matthews. You saw what McDavid did last year with a much worse shot arsenal because of his hockey IQ and dual threat ability, Mario is doing that very consistently during his prime without injuries. He's definitely putting up at least a couple of 70 goal seasons during his peak. Maybe not every year but he'd at least hit 70 3 times. Mario with no obstruction and a two-line pass is creating offense at a level we haven't seen in 30 years no doubt about it.

Anyways, what Matthews is doing this year is extremely impressive and we're lucky to have someone like him come and pick up the torch from Ovi. People need to appreciate how special of a goalscorer he truly is.

Absolutely, Lemieux was a UNIT.

He could have won a scoring title at age 37 in the dead puck era had it not been for injuries or selling off his team.

I know it seems like I'm selling him short, but I personally believe I'm just advocating more for today's modern goalies and team structure.

Lemieux would crush it in this era, get real. His size, wingspan, and hands in an era that hardly anyone can touch him?

Athletic freaks like beer belly Ovechkin aren't proving much.

Beer belly Ovechkin lol.

Ovechkin is the most freakish/explosive force to ever play in the NHL along with Lindros(didn't have Ovechkin's speed though).

I've met Ovechkin as well, he said he played at around 230-245 pounds in his prime. Let that sink in lol

 

[Incognito]

this guy really just came in here to compare reinhart to matthews

It’s wild. Matthews is twice the goal scorer that Reinhart is. Any minor perceived difference in defensive ability between the two is dwarfed by the absolutely massive advantage that Matthews has over Reinhart offensively.

 

[The Hanging Jowl]

Incredible season.

But 38 assists is hilarious. I hadnt looked at his point totals in a while, so seeing he was closing in on 70 goals I thought hed be within striking distance of the points lead. Nope

Draisaitl has 2 less points and has been a less than spectacular season for him

No slight to Matthews, hes been a top 5 player in the league for sure and his underlying metrics back that up, but only 38 assists is crazy low for a player like him. Puts him tied for 78th in the league with the likes of Matias Maccelli

The thing is, you would expect he's a goal suck or a puck hog. My pet peeve with Matthews is he passes the puck too much and in my opinion, too soon. You have to be on your toes playing with that guy. I want him to shoot more.

 

[Luigi Lemieux]

So I guess the talk of him not being a generational player can stop. Literally most goals in a generation. If Ovechkin is one so is Matthews.

 

[BraveCanadian]

Ovechkin is the most freakish/explosive force to ever play in the NHL along with Lindros(didn't have Ovechkin's speed though).

Thanks for sharing your opinion.

 

[MCR74]

this guy really just came in here to compare reinhart to matthews

You can't pay for comedy this good.

 

[pi314]

Folks, we need to stop romanticizing/simping over the older generation when it come to these types of things.

Of course Lemieux IS a better player than Matthews, and of course he'd put up monster numbers in any NHL era.

BUT...and say it with me...he would not be scoring 70+ goals consistently in the NHL in the Salary Cap era.

Ovechkin and Matthews are athletic freaks that have every best tool a goal scorer needs, and they'll never hit 70 multiple times.

Everyone references Lemieux 1995-1996 season, just look at these goals he scored, I wish goalies were like that now lol.

The goalies just look stupid because that’s what Mario does.

 

[blundluntman]

Absolutely, Lemieux was a UNIT.

He could have won a scoring title at age 37 in the dead puck era had it not been for injuries or selling off his team.

I know it seems like I'm selling him short, but I personally believe I'm just advocating more for today's modern goalies and team structure.

I agree that goaltending/team structure is different, but the way Mario scored goals isn't obstructed at all by those two things when you watch how he scores goals. He's beating goalies today clean from any spot on the ice, and there's more space/freedom for skilled players nowadays than there was back then. His game translates better in 2024 than almost any other player in NHL history. I don't think he'd have trouble potting 70 at all.

 

[Strangle]

You can almost stop reading 5 posts in yet there's 45 pages.

I’ve read through it multiple times, I can’t get enough of it

It’s 45 pages of Leaf fans clowning on hfboards users and them plugging their ears and going “nuuuuuh uhhhhhhh” like little children

 

[JediOrderPizza]

Def gonna get 70, who do they play next?

 

[Strangle]

Matthews doesn't collect many secondary assists. There are several reasons for this, some within his control, and some more to do with the way the team is being coached imo.

If you have a Matthews on a line with Marner and knies …. Who is taking the shots, who is passing the puck and who is in front of the net?

I believe these answers to be self evident

Also if you’re scoring 70 goals a year, why would you pass it instead of just shooting? Like what coach in their right mind would be “nice hat trick Auston, but would you mind giving Marner a few shots at the net too?” And have Matthews slap you and say “I do that, he just passes it back to me, you idiot. What f***ing game are you watching?”

 

[MCR74]

I’ve read through it multiple times, I can’t get enough of it

It’s 45 pages of Leaf fans clowning on hfboards users and them plugging their ears and going “nuuuuuh uhhhhhhh” like little children

And you can bet there will be a fresh new thread comparing the two next season. Maybe by then the Sens will have figured out how to spend that extra $5M.

 

[Rants Mulliniks]

Incredible season.

But 38 assists is hilarious. I hadnt looked at his point totals in a while, so seeing he was closing in on 70 goals I thought hed be within striking distance of the points lead. Nope

Draisaitl has 2 less points and has been a less than spectacular season for him

No slight to Matthews, hes been a top 5 player in the league for sure and his underlying metrics back that up, but only 38 assists is crazy low for a player like him. Puts him tied for 78th in the league with the likes of Matias Maccelli

Very much in line with Brett Hull:

86	45
72	41
70	39

Crazy that by the same age Brett Hull only had 232 goals yet finished with 741.

 

[Sypher04]

I agree that goaltending/team structure is different, but the way Mario scored goals isn't obstructed at all by those two things when you watch how he scores goals. He's beating goalies today clean from any spot on the ice, and there's more space/freedom for skilled players nowadays than there was back then. His game translates better in 2024 than almost any other player in NHL history. I don't think he'd have trouble potting 70 at all.

Lemieux was truly something else. Given health he would have obliterated Gretzky's goal record.

 

[The Podium]

Incredible season.

But 38 assists is hilarious. I hadnt looked at his point totals in a while, so seeing he was closing in on 70 goals I thought hed be within striking distance of the points lead. Nope

Draisaitl has 2 less points and has been a less than spectacular season for him

No slight to Matthews, hes been a top 5 player in the league for sure and his underlying metrics back that up, but only 38 assists is crazy low for a player like him. Puts him tied for 78th in the league with the likes of Matias Maccelli

He had a primary playmaker and rookie on his line for the majority of the season. There really weren’t a ton of passing options and he is the trigger man on the PP not the QB.

 

[Frank Drebin]

Congrats to leaf fans on a remarkable season. Don't particularly care for the player but 70 would be cool