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

[Rants Mulliniks]

Gordie Howe also played 26 seasons just in the NHL and another 6 seasons in the WHA.

There's a reason I list him as the example of longevity. Sure Matthews could hover around 35 goals per season on average well into his late 30's, it's just incredibly unlikely. People really don't grasp just how rare that is.

You aren't grasping how rare Matthews' stats have been.

To give you an idea, Matthews is about to hit 350 goals. I can't predict the when but probably very soon, just 6 to go. To get to 350 it took OV:

581 GP 12, 562:58 TOI 3, 015:56 PPTOI 2,941 SOG

While 6 goals short, Matthews sits at:

532 GP 10, 511:37 TOI 1, 559:50 PPTOI 2,125 SOG

2000 extra minutes is close to 100 games in Matthews' time. Almost 1500 minutes of extra PP time. Over 38% more shots on goal by OV for the same result.

Matthews' production is full stop insane (hence why I say I don't think you are fully grasping it).

If nothing derails him (slump or injury), he could hit 500 by 28, though more likely 29. Only 2 players in the history of the NHL have EVER hit 500 before 30 years old (and both played in the 80's):

Gretzky at 25 years and 300 days

Bossy at 28 years and 345 days

You have to consider as well that Ovechkin got a lot of those full-2 min powerplays simply because of the fact that he was playing the d-man role, and didn't have to skate a ton.

Matthews would be a lot less effective playing the full 2-mins on his powerplay setup based on his role in that powerplay. And then if you wanted to switch him to D and have him play the full 2 mins, his efficiency would go down due to being in a less advantageous position to score goals.

Cut his PP proficiency in half if you want, it still just widens the gap.

 

[uncleben]

5 hat tricks is tied for the 17th best season ever - hasn't been done since 2005-05 (Cheechoo)
No way he breaks Gretzky's record of 10 in a season, but would be neat to see him net one or two more and move up the list

 

[Rants Mulliniks]

It's also scary to think how many goals Mathews would already be at it fi he was a better PP Goal guy.

He is probably going to end the season with the best goal scoring season and 5th best one as well since the lockout.

Right now his best PPG season of 16 isn't even good enough for top 50 and he has 12 right now.

I don't think that it is a stretch to say that AM is the best ES goal scorer since the lockout and perhaps since expansion at the same point of other players careers.

Huh? Only Draisaitl and Pastrnak convert better than Matthews on the PP since he entered the league.

 

[wetcoast]

Huh? Only Draisaitl and Pastrnak convert better than Matthews on the PP since he entered the league.

I was talking strictly counting stats since the lockout which was 05-06.

NHL Stats

The official source for NHL Stats including skaters, goalies, teams stats and more.

www.nhl.com

 

[TheGroceryStick]

Why do I know this guy gunna hurt me , against Canada.

 

[BallardEra]

*checks avatar*

It feels nice ball-washing Ovie for two decades and then having Matthews come right after him.

 

[BayStBullies]

If only he could do it in the playoffs

Which team will you be watching?

 

[BackToTheBrierePatch]

That shot on the PPG was just ridiculous. A fraction of a second later and Ersson saves it. Just a disgusting release

 

[Rants Mulliniks]

I was talking strictly counting stats since the lockout which was 05-06.

NHL Stats

The official source for NHL Stats including skaters, goalies, teams stats and more.

www.nhl.com

But you said "if he was a better PP guy". He's fantastic, his team just doesn't get PP time.

 

[Pierre from Orleans]

The guy has the most accurate shot in the NHL

 

[GoJetsGo55]

Is there anyone who got as close to 50 in 50 in the modern era?

How close did Ovi get?

Edit: Found this but it was from an older article (2017)

 

[cowboy82nd]

Ovechkin obviously

And where does Gretzky fit in?

 

[TheBeastCoast]

Why do I know this guy gunna hurt me , against Canada.

Honestly if Canada voluntarily leaves Makar at home I might just have to cheer for Matthews lol

 

[Mirka the Turka]

And where does Gretzky fit in?

Maybe number 3. Gretzky is the GOAT, but not really regarded as the best goal scorer.

 

[BTP]

It feels nice ball-washing Ovie for two decades and then having Matthews come right after him.

pause.

 

[TheSuperElite]

seen this act before, still can't do it in the playoffs lol

 

[hfman]

1967 amirite??!

Hurr durr

really?

I'm still trying to figure out what "Now so it in the playoffs" means

 

[Video Nasty]

Is there anyone who got as close to 50 in 50 in the modern era?

How close did Ovi get?

Edit: Found this but it was from an older article (2017)

View attachment 820997

Matthews’ 42 this season eclipsed McDavid’s 41 from just last season. Mind you, McDavid took 4 fewer shots and handed out 30 more assists while potting his 41 in 50.

Maybe number 3. Gretzky is the GOAT, but not really regarded as the best goal scorer.

The hockey world is a strange one when it doesn’t recognize the all-time leading goal scorer who also happens to own the top 2 highest scoring individual seasons and 4 of the top 10, while being the fastest to 200 through 894 career goals, as the best goal scorer. Even stranger is when Ovechkin scored his 600th, there was a very vocal portion of it that seemed only too willing to hand the keys over then.

All of this while still finding the time to dish out 1,963 assists and shoot the puck 1500 fewer times.

 

[Maple Leaf]

Cool. How were goalies when Denneney or Lemieux played?

I could beat Bossy

 

[ANDI P IS CUTE]

Matthew's has to have hit the most posts this season too, its not close.

It's a crazy stat, but you have to look at league-wide scoring and performance vs. peers when comparing players across eras like that.

What benefits Bossy in this comparison is that his career ended when he was still in his prime.

During his ten years in the league Bossy only led the league in goals twice. If we remove Gretzky from the equation he gets one more first place finish. Removing Kurri as well (since he played with Gretzky) gives Bossy two more.

That's still four less than Ovechkin. If we only look at Ovechkins first ten years in the league it's a 5-5 tie.

People often bring up Bossy's absolutely amazing achievement of nine straight 50-goal seasons. But when you look at context, during his career there were 68 50-goal seasons in the league, including Bossy's 9. Remove Bossy's last season (when he didn't score 50 anymore) and the number is 63. So during the time Bossy was having 50 goal seasons he had ~14 % of all 50 goal seasons in the league.

During Ovechkin's career there have been 31 50-goal seasons in the league and of those Ovechkin had 9. Remove last two years (when Ovi didn't score 50 anymore) and the number goes down to 26. So Ovechkin had 34 percent of all 50-goal seasons in the league during the time he was scoring 50 goals.

And if we look at percentage lead over second in goals during their whole career (and generously remove Gretzky in case of Bossy) Ovi has 44 % more goals than the second (Crosby), while Bossy had 24 % more goals than the second after Gretzky (Dionne). When you keep in mind that Ovechkin has played almost twice the number of games than Bossy did, that's absolutely crazy. Much crazier than Bossy's gpg when you look at context.

Bossy was amazing but Ovi is the GOAT goal scorer, there's no way around it.

On topic, Matthews has a chance to surpass Ovechkin and it would be absolutely bonkers to see him score 900 goals. I'm hoping he does it one day.

Bossy had way more room- goalies were shorter and the equipment was much much smaller.

 

[Rants Mulliniks]

The hockey world is a strange one when it doesn’t recognize the all-time leading goal scorer who also happens to own the top 2 highest scoring individual seasons and 4 of the top 10, while being the fastest to 200 through 894 career goals, as the best goal scorer. Even stranger is when Ovechkin scored his 600th, there was a very vocal portion of it that seemed only too willing to hand the keys over then.

All of this while still finding the time to dish out 1,963 assists and shoot the puck 1500 fewer times.

Some of us have watched all of their careers in their entirety. If I had to pick one guy with everything on the line, I would pick Lemieux. Don’t think I would even hesitate.

 

[Matty Sundin]

Matthews will become the goat of All the goat goal scorers by the time he’s done. Gonna make that cheese while doing it

 

[MacMacandBarbie]

You aren't grasping how rare Matthews' stats have been.

To give you an idea, Matthews is about to hit 350 goals. I can't predict the when but probably very soon, just 6 to go. To get to 350 it took OV:

581 GP 12, 562:58 TOI 3, 015:56 PPTOI 2,941 SOG

While 6 goals short, Matthews sits at:

532 GP 10, 511:37 TOI 1, 559:50 PPTOI 2,125 SOG

2000 extra minutes is close to 100 games in Matthews' time. Almost 1500 minutes of extra PP time. Over 38% more shots on goal by OV for the same result.

Matthews' production is full stop insane (hence why I say I don't think you are fully grasping it).

Yo, we are grasping it bud. It’s only been done by 5-10 players in history. It’s rare. You know what’s more rare? What Ovechkin did in the back half of his career. Only one person has continued consistent Richard level play deep into their 30s while avoiding injuries.

If nothing derails him (slump or injury), he could hit 500 by 28, though more likely 29. Only 2 players in the history of the NHL have EVER hit 500 before 30 years old (and both played in the 80's):

Gretzky at 25 years and 300 days

Bossy at 28 years and 345 days



Cut his PP proficiency in half if you want, it still just widens the gap.

Okay now people are just being intentionally dense. The whole argument is that the deck is absolutely stacked against him that something will derail him, like injuries, a slump, linemate/personnel changes, or even rule changes that lead to decreases in league scoring.

 

[MacMacandBarbie]

The hockey world is a strange one when it doesn’t recognize the all-time leading goal scorer who also happens to own the top 2 highest scoring individual seasons and 4 of the top 10, while being the fastest to 200 through 894 career goals, as the best goal scorer. Even stranger is when Ovechkin scored his 600th, there was a very vocal portion of it that seemed only too willing to hand the keys over then.

All of this while still finding the time to dish out 1,963 assists and shoot the puck 1500 fewer times.

We saw Mario play during roughly the same era as Gretzky, so it’s really not that strange that the hockey world collectively agreed that Mario is better than Gretzky at goal scoring.

 

[Rants Mulliniks]

Yo, we are grasping it bud. It’s only been done by 5-10 players in history. It’s rare. You know what’s more rare? What Ovechkin did in the back half of his career. Only one person has continued consistent Richard level play deep into their 30s while avoiding injuries.

Okay now people are just being intentionally dense. The whole argument is that the deck is absolutely stacked against him that something will derail him, like injuries, a slump, linemate/personnel changes, or even rule changes that lead to decreases in league scoring.

Try less than 5 - 10 across many categories. The only reason people think it is remotely close is time.

Except the deck isn't nearly as stacked as is being portrayed. The discussion was what it takes to get to #4 and the numbers presented were to get him there by 33 years old. Maybe you didn't read what was being discussed? Or you are expecting rule changes this year or next? COVID could happen again too but I can't really expect it.