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

[95Tal]

Hey I'm in my mid 50s so I had many Maruk hockey cards and remember him but the 80s were really run and gun and even in the 70's a guy like Ron Sedlbauer scored 40 goals in one unicorn season.

Maruk just happens to the have "the best" relatively unknown stat season ever.

Put another way last year in a relatively high scoring season, at least in the recent past, 11 players scored 100+ points and the league had 32 teams.

In 81-82, the year Maruk scored 60-76-136 in a 21 team league 13 players scored 100+ points.

That's quite the difference and even more so considering they played 80 games then and we have 82 now.

I just think in my unsophisticated way that players are best judged by their head-to-head performance against their contemporaries, which for me tells a much more compelling story than one where the player's stats are altered to try and bring them forward in time to go up against players of today. I think doing that threatens to invalidate what they accomplished, or at least tarnish it. Maruk gets less respect than Dangerfield did, ha ha. And yes, I have his face tattooed on my arm (no I don't).

 

[Strangle]

yeah but I wasn't asking the 25% or whatever u said 23% I'm more so interested how he landed on that being the right number? seems pretty wrong. I dunno how Ovechkin's 50+ goal seasons can be worth over 20 goals to Matthews current amount actually it would be more
is 52 = 40 then how many would he really need to match one of Ovechkin's 50+ seasons?

basically 1.5 matthews goals for 1 of ovechkins. since Matthews would need 10+ to get 50+ that means about 25-30 goals dont count for Matthews while trying to get on the same level as Ovechkin. its just complete nonsense with that logic.

never really needed you to step in. I mean if you just looked at it you should have been able to see how stupid their side was

It’s like trying to accelerate a space ship to the speed of light. You need more and more fuel, which adds more mass, which means more fuel ….. etc

The more goals Matthews scores, the ‘easier’ scoring looks, which means he needs to score more goals. Constantly raising the fraction of a goal his goals are worth compared to Ovechkin, until each Matthews goal is only worth 0.01 of an Ovechkin goal and he’s scored 200 goals in a season but “adjusted stats” point to Ovechkin’s 50 goals as a much better goal scoring season

I’m laughing while I’m typing this, the idea of people thinking this way is just so absurd

 

[wetcoast]

I just think in my unsophisticated way that players are best judged by their head-to-head performance against their contemporaries, which for me tells a much more compelling story than one where the player's stats are altered to try and bring them forward in time to go up against players of today. I think doing that threatens to invalidate what they accomplished, or at least tarnish it. Maruk gets less respect than Dangerfield did, ha ha. And yes, I have his face tattooed on my arm (no I don't).

Why not do both?

Hey man there is no shame in having Maruk ink.

 

[TDK67]

Fun/dumb fact...Zac Funk failing to score in the WHL tonight gives Matthews sole possession of the #1 G/GP rate (0.945) across every Pro Hockey League in the world as well as the entire CHL, NCAA, & USHL.

 

[Slimmy]

Not sure why this has to be speculated when the numbers are right here: NHL League Averages | Hockey-Reference.com

League Avg Goals & Top Goal Scoring Total

* 2023-24: 3.13 (52g in 55gp)
* 2022-23: 3.18 (64g in 82gp)
* 2021-22: 3.14 (60g in 73gp)
* 1993-94: 3.24 (60g in 76gp)
* 1992-93: 3.63 (76g in 77gp)
* 1991-92: 3.48 (70g in 73gp)
* 1990-91: 3.46 (86g in 78gp)
* 1989-90: 3.68 (72g in 80gp)

League scoring is actually down this year vs the last two years. And league wide scoring this year is nowhere close to the scoring of the early 90s.

Season isnt over, though. But, I stand corrected. Mid 90's is a better comparison.

 

[Slimmy]

We are in mid 90s territory. League scoring is most similar to 1995-96, but the top players played far more on the powerplay back then hence why most of the elite/1st line players were scoring even more. 1993-94 is probably most comparable to today for scoring at the top. 1990-91 to 1992-93 were a much easier time for scoring, especially 1992-93, yet here we are with Matthews looking to score close to 76 (currently on pace for 77 but not likely he gets that much IMO). Even if you changed nothing about todays environment and just gave Matthews top 20-30 powerplay time instead of 60-70 then I think he would score more than 76, that’s how good he is.

I stand corrected. Mid 90's numbers are a better comparison. However, I think my point got lost while arguing which exact years in the 90's are a more apt comparison. Put this eras scoring in the proper context so that we can better evaluate the accoplishments of contemporary players.

 

[Adrianopolous]

 

[Sheppy]

153 points. It’s close, though. 70 goals would be incredible too.

 

[Adrianopolous]

153 points. It’s close, though. 70 goals would be incredible too.

McDavid had 64 goals though?

 

[Buck Naked]

Noooope.

 

[GeoRox89]

70 goals and ~120 points? Not for me, no. 70 goals and ~140 points? Probably

 

[larek]

Considering there's no contact in the NHL now I'd say it's not that impressive

 

[WarriorofTime]

153 points. It’s close, though. 70 goals would be incredible too.

The 153 points was accompanied by 64 goals… I would think six fewer goals and a million more assists is much more impressive. Not close for me.

 

[BigBadBruins7708]

No.

Ovechkin's 65 in a lower scoring league would still be the more impressive goal season. No one post lockout touches McDavid’s 153

 

[JMCx4]

Link? Is Matthews hitting 70-plus more impressive than McDavid’s 153 point season? - Video - TSN

 

[TheBeastCoast]

No.

Ovechkin's 65 in a lower scoring league would still be the more impressive goal season. No one post lockout touches McDavid’s 153

Ovechkin's 65 goal season he was also being fed like significantly more PP chances then you get in today's NHL.

 

[Sheppy]

The 153 points was accompanied by 64 goals… I would think six fewer goals and a million more assists is much more impressive. Not close for me.

When you put it that way, yeah, you’re probably right.

 

[mr figgles]

When McDavid does something this season that only Gretzky, Lemieux, and Orr have done, people will be saying Matthews who? Even Bernie Nicholls and Alexander Mogilny put up 70 goals.

 

[TheDoldrums]

When McDavid does something this season that only Gretzky, Lemieux, and Orr have done, people will be saying Matthews who? Even Bernie Nicholls and Alexander Mogilny put up 70 goals.

Bernie Nicholls also put up 150 points, stop dragging my mans

 

[Janvonpobben]

matthews can hit 80, thats more impressive than mcdavid ever done

 

[LivingRentFree]

McDavid had 64 goals though?

The dude had 71 powerplay points. FIFTY assists on the powerplay. Literally every single top 6 oiler overachieved that year with powerplay points.

McDavid wasn’t first in Even strength goals, or assists that year even with 150 points. I find that to be even crazier.

 

[NVious]

Fun/dumb fact...Zac Funk failing to score in the WHL tonight gives Matthews sole possession of the #1 G/GP rate (0.945) across every Pro Hockey League in the world as well as the entire CHL, NCAA, & USHL.

Could Matthews one day be as good as Zac Funk? I think not, but a fun thought nonetheless.

#KeepItUpKid

 

[Stephen]

Fun/dumb fact...Zac Funk failing to score in the WHL tonight gives Matthews sole possession of the #1 G/GP rate (0.945) across every Pro Hockey League in the world as well as the entire CHL, NCAA, & USHL.

Zac Funk has more assists though.

 

[NyQuil]

Can we just take a second to appreciate a guy named Zac Funk?

 

[Regal]

The dude had 71 powerplay points. FIFTY assists on the powerplay. Literally every single top 6 oiler overachieved that year with powerplay points.

McDavid wasn’t first in Even strength goals, or assists that year even with 150 points. I find that to be even crazier.

While I do tend to prefer 5v5 success, McDavid has more than proved himself there to the point that the criticisms on his PP scoring are a bit absurd. It’s not like he was riding the coattails, he was the main reason that was arguably the best PP of all time. And when the PP is going like that there’s going to be some score effects 5v5, because teams aren’t always pushing for offense if they gain the lead in other ways.