Auston Matthews is one of the worst even-strength scorers in the entire league

[Regal]

He's also 2nd in the league in 5v5 shots and has a 3.77 SH%, instead of his usual ~16%.

Wonder where the "Nathan Mackinnon is one of the worst even strength scorers in the entire league" thread is.

Matthews has obviously been snake bit to start the year, but it shouldn’t be surprising that a lack of goals are the focus for a player who is known as the best goalscorer in the league like Matthews rather than someone who is somewhere in the pack of good goalscorers, but a more blanched producer like MacKinnon. MacKinnon is also still producing at a high rate at ES overall due to his assists, whereas Matthews isn’t.

 

[abo9]

Stamkos Crosby and Malkin all got serious injuries going into a mini dead puck era in the mid 2010s where scoring and PP time dried up, might have something to do with it.

Wasn't Crosby's injuries mostly pre-25 though? I mean, fwiw, why discount injuries and mileage for Matthews?

And, that's why I mentioned data taken over larger samples. The analysis shows that forwards peak around 23-25 at even strength. I can try to fetch those if you're interested in their methodology, but yeah, 25 is a perfectly normal age for a forward to start declining.

Purely in terms of goals and assists though, don't think anyone did measure defensive impact or other intangibles.

 

[Rob Brown]

Auston Matthews is like HFboards favorite player to attack for no reason whatsoever

I remember the other game some random nobody was coming to try to fight him and he just laughed it off, like many superstars do, and people attacked him because his teammates came to protect him from this nobody. I'm like, how many fights has McDavid been in or any other superstar for that matter. Surprisingly, they get no criticism for not fighting. And these guys shouldn't be fighting, they are there to play hockey.

People just hate on Auston Matthews for no reason. He's the second best player in the NHL, and the best goal scorer by far. He's our generations Ovechkin.

If he was on any even semi popular US team he'd be loved. It's bizarre to me that arguably the best US player in the league is hated so much by everyone, especially one that does well at growing the sport.

 

[HockeyVirus]

Pretty sure Matthews is THE best 5v5 scorer since he entered the league, no?

 

[GreatSaveEssensa]

Yes, he's shooting 6% lower than his career average, so wouldn't that indicate that he's just been snakebitten/unlucky/started off slow this year rather than the 'worst even strength scorers in the entire league'? He's still averaging over 4 shots per game this year, similar tor last season. If he was shooting at 17% like last season and shooting way less per game, I might agree that he has regressed at least compared to last season. There's also plenty of 'star' players with VERY low shooting %'s - how are they considered goal scorers?

Calling the guy that has (I believe) the most 5v5 goals since he joined the league the 'worst even strength scorers in the entire league' is incredibly disingenuous and likely intended to stir up trolls, which we've already seen in this thread.

I agree, I really like Matthews. But I never said that nor implied it. All I’m saying is that up until this point in time, for THiS season, the numbers do kind of back up the claim that Matthews has been one of the worst ES scorers up to now based on TOI. Will it continue? I would bet my firstborn child it will not

 

[Dekes For Days]

Matthews has obviously been snake bit to start the year, but it shouldn’t be surprising that a lack of goals are the focus for a player who is known as the best goalscorer in the league like Matthews rather than someone who is somewhere in the pack of good goalscorers, but a more blanched producer like MacKinnon.

The point is that a main boards thread isn't necessary every time a player goes through a conversion slump in a particular game state through a fraction of a season.
The actual purpose of this thread is quite clear.

 

[AvroArrow]

Well ya I do. Want to know why? Because the numbers don't lie.

The numbers say he scored 75 ES goals in 125 games last year and the previous year combined, you know what the numbers say ? 49 ES goals per 82 games played lol, he'll be fine but I'm sure you're well aware of that.

 

[My3Sons]

At this point does the regular season matter to him? The Leafs have a very good team and barring a total collapse will make the playoffs. Isn’t that what he’s waiting for? He can score 80 goals but he will hear the chirps about the playoffs and I’m sure he wants to silence those. He’s a top player and looked like a dominant offense driver against a red hot NJ in last night’s game. If someone watching thr Leafs can’t see that they are not watching.

 

[Rob Brown]

I agree, I really like Matthews. But I never said that nor implied it. All I’m saying is that up until this point in time, for THiS season, the numbers to kind of back uo the claim that Matthews had been one of the worst ES scorers up to now based on TOI. Will it continue? I would bet my firstborn child it will not

Patrick Kane is shooting 4.6% this year.

Nathan MacKinnon is shooting 5.4% this year.

Neither of them are considered the 'worst even strength goal scorers in the entire league', so it makes no sense to say that Matthews is.

No one would argue with you that he's had a slow start or that he has been unlucky, but the OP claiming he's the worst 5v5 goal scorer in the league when he's led the league in 5v5 goals in recent years is obviously misleading and posted for other reasons.

 

[TheNumber4]

Matthews is a fraud. And this is only the beginning of him being exposed as the fraud he is.

 

[HockeyVirus]

The point is that a main boards thread isn't necessary every time a player goes through a conversion slump in a particular game state through a fraction of a season.
The actual purpose of this thread is quite clear.

I say it every chance I get. Fans complain how much the Leafs are shoved down their throat, and yet fans of other teams always have an active Leaf thread (unless they are winning) and when it gets closed or dies, a new one pops up.

How can you blame corporations for feeding you content you obviously want to consume?

 

[Rob Brown]

Matthews is a fraud. And this is only the beginning of him being exposed as the fraud he is.

And here's the reason the thread was created.

 

[HockeyVirus]

Matthews is a fraud. And this is only the beginning of him being exposed as the fraud he is.

This man scrambling worse than the Oilers defense. This chirp is so soft I thought it was a Campbell goal against in a key moment.

 

[TheNumber4]

And here's the reason the thread was created.

Yes, for discussing Matthews.

 

[Rude Dog]

He has a minuscule 2 EV goals in 18 games despite some of the highest ice time for forwards across the NHL. He might not even hit 35 goals this year overall.

Let's check back after 82 games shall we? Got to give it to you. At least your posts are consistent. Bad...but consistent.

 

[leafsfan5]

Auston Matthews is like HFboards favorite player to attack for no reason whatsoever

I remember the other game some random nobody was coming to try to fight him and he just laughed it off, like many superstars do, and people attacked him because his teammates came to protect him from this nobody. I'm like, how many fights has McDavid been in or any other superstar for that matter. Surprisingly, they get no criticism for not fighting. And these guys shouldn't be fighting, they are there to play hockey.

People just hate on Auston Matthews for no reason. He's the second best player in the NHL, and the best goal scorer by far. He's our generations Ovechkin.

There's a pretty obvious reason he gets hate, the jersey he wears

 

[TheNumber4]

This man scrambling worse than the Oilers defense. This chirp is so soft I thought it was a Campbell goal against in a key moment.

That’s cause it’s not a chirp. Just straight up truth.

There's a pretty obvious reason he gets hate, the jersey he wears

More accurately, the jerseys his fans wear. Lots of Matthews hate started when he was pronounced generational.

 

[Rude Dog]

Yes, for discussing Matthews.

If only he could shoot more against Campbell.

 

[HockeyVirus]

Not including his 60 goal season here either. Imagine making a 'Bergeron sucks at defense' or 'McDavid is a poor skater' thread?

 

[Rob Brown]

Yes, for discussing Matthews.

Yeah, calling him a fraud is totally relevant to the thread topic.

 

[AvroArrow]

That’s cause it’s not a chirp. Just straight up truth.



More accurately, the jerseys his fans wear. Lots of Matthews hate started when he was pronounced generational.

"The reigning rocket richard winner, 2x in a row, who is averaging 38 ES goals per 82 GP so far in his career is one of the worst even strength scorers in the entire league, Just the straight up truth" - Some dude who's definitely a hockey expert

 

[TheNumber4]

"The reigning rocket richard winner, 2x in a row, who is averaging 38 ES goals per 82 GP so far in his career is one of the worst even strength scorers in the entire league, Just the straight up truth" - Some dude who's definitely a hockey expert

Arguments are easy to make when you strawman the other side.

 

[Romang67]

This will probably age well.

 

[GeeoffBrown]

I think Matthews might have already lost the Rocket this year but he will get in the race.

 

[nbwingsfan]

The expectation of 70G from some Leaf fans sure look silly now.