There's projections and there's doing it and until now Matthews has never done it. Again, if Ovechkin only played 60 games last year he would've been projected at a near 60 goal pace or slightly higher, he finished with 51. An 82 game season takes it's tolls and affords more room for peaks and valleys with production. Most goal scorers are streaky, that's just how it is and putting Matthews at Ovechkin's level or above it is just ridiculous at this point because he hasn't produced at the same level.
And to add, saying this doesn't mean anyone hates Matthews, I think the kid is awesome and has all the potential to do it, but the truth is he hasn't and putting him there before he has is just a dumb thing to do.