It’s all relative though. Scoring is much higher now.
In Matthews rookie season, 44 goals won the Rocket and the Art Ross was won with McDavid hitting 100 points, second in league scoring was 89 points. Not a single player in the league hit 50 goals in Matthews first 2 seasons.
In comparison, 4 players hit 50+ just last year, with one hitting 69 goals. 9 players finished with over 100 points last year with 2 players getting 100 assists alone. 19 players finished with at least 89 points last season which would have been 2nd in league scoring in Matthews rookie season.
Sure, but AM34 had a lot more help offensively on those Leafs team.
Just comparing their rookie seasons, the Leafs had JVR, Kadri, Nylander, and Marner all hit over 60pts (in addition to Matthews who hit 69 in 82). Last year's Hawks team had Bedard at 61 in 68, and then Kurashev with 54 in 75, Foligno with 37 in 74, and Dickinson with 35 in 82.
Matthews had a hell of a lot more help. Whether or not they were all his linemates or not, all those players were other guys teams had to focus on and attempt to shutdown. You couldn't just put your checking line out against Matthews, because you'd be giving Kadri easier opportunities.
Bedard didn't have any of that. The Hawks 2nd best forward last year is a guy who is a frequent healthy scratch this year. The next best forward is Nick Foligno, who at his age, was frequently on Boston's 4th line the year prior.
Hawks did improve a bit this year, but there is still a giant talent discrepancy between Matthews' Leafs in his 2nd year and Bedard's Hawks in his. So league wide increases in scoring recently probably isn't playing much of a role on a Hawks team scoring this little.
Having said all that, Auston Matthews is a damn good player and if Bedard only had that level of an impact during the regular season, it wouldn't be a negative. I would hope for more in the playoffs, though.
