Is Auston Matthews a "generational goal scorer"? A deep dive.

[authentic]

It’s more than just that tho

I think goaltenders in general have improved so much. These days they catch Ovechkin and Matthews snipes through a crowd.

In the 80s weak backhanders went five hole.

Goalies are so monumentally better it's really hard to fathom, but it's largely due to the shift from standup to butterfly, they just couldn't possibly be that effective with the old style and equipment.

 

[mydnyte]

It’s more than just that tho

I think goaltenders in general have improved so much. These days they catch Ovechkin and Matthews snipes through a crowd.

In the 80s weak backhanders went five hole.

Ken Dryden was a pretty big goalie and a typical size even now at 6'3"
look at how much net there is to shoot at. ...the goalie equipment now covers at least 50% more than it used to
a 4th liner with a modern stick could pick a corner on the best goalie from back then.

I'd love to see a 'retro' exhibition game where all the equipment used was from the 70's

...some of the players wouldnt be able to skate under all the added weight and stiffness, and some of the elite shots would look mediocre with a wooden stick. butterfly style didnt exist back then for good reason 1/2 the net would be wide open.

 

[Cecithepylon]

Once Matthews got his moustache he entered his “black mamba form” and reached a new level and there’s no going back. He has this edge to him now and the confidence to play against anyone.

 

[2 Slick]

Only Ovechkin has scored more goals than Matthews has since he debuted five seasons ago. He's the best pure goal scorer of this generation. That's pretty much fact.

 

[Cecithepylon]

He’s forsure a rocket winner unless mcdavid gets 8 in his next game

 

[hoglund]

He’s forsure a rocket winner unless mcdavid gets 8 in his next game

Don't forget back in the 70s Sittler scored 10 points in one game. I can't remember how many of those were goals, I think 6 or 7, but it could've been eight and McDavid is considered to be better than Sittler.

 

[Papa Cherry]

He scores most of his goals with that wrist shot. It's the deadliest wrist shot the NHL has ever seen.

If they ever figure out how to get him to dominate on the power play like other 60 goal scorers (Stamkos, Ovechkin), Matthews will legitimately challenge Mcdavid for the Hart.

 

[Mickey Marner]

I think he'll age very well as a goal scorer. It doesn't seem unrealistic that he could average 4 shots per game and score on every 6th one for the foreseeable future. That's a ~55 goal pace per 82. His career averages are 3.68 shots per game and 16.2 shooting percentage with both numbers trending up.

 

[RealisticLeaf55]

If Matthews can win a few rockets, I think it is entirely fact. Especially if he can pot 55+ goal seasons 3-5 times. Multiple 60+ goal seasons would entirely cement this theory.

 

[zeke]

He scores most of his goals with that wrist shot. It's the deadliest wrist shot the NHL has ever seen.

If they ever figure out how to get him to dominate on the power play like other 60 goal scorers (Stamkos, Ovechkin), Matthews will legitimately challenge Mcdavid for the Hart.

Career PP Goals per 60min:

1. Matthews 3.25
2. Stamkos 3.17
3. Ovechkin 2.99

 

[Dekes For Days]

If they ever figure out how to get him to dominate on the power play like other 60 goal scorers (Stamkos, Ovechkin), Matthews will legitimately challenge Mcdavid for the Hart.

Matthews does dominate on the powerplay like Stamkos and Ovechkin. He just hasn't gotten the same PP time.

 

[93LEAFS]

Lmao oh he scored 90 goals against those spectacular goalies from the 80s. How impressive!!!

Do you know how easy it was to score then? Not a single one of those goalies could stop even the most pedestrian shot from Matthews. Gretzky would not produce anywhere near the same in today’s league.

The greatest goal scorer ever is Ovechkin at the moment. Not Gretzky.

Send any good NHL player back with modern equipment and training then they would obviously destroy the league (maybe not to Gretz or Mario levels), but you can't examine things like that. Matthews wrist shot and puck control wouldn't be the same without a tailored composite stick designed with an ideal curce, flex and kick point to maximize what he wants out of a stick. Current goalies with modern equipment allowing them to easily play in a butterfly without the weight of heavy pads weighing them down would also excel. More than any of the other big 4 sports in North America (and you could add soccer), hockey has been the most heavily altered by just technological advancements in equipment. I think it was at a Leafs outdoor practice/skate a couple years ago that Rielly and Gardiner tried using old-school wood sticks and almost lost their mind.

Matthews is a great player and I'm sure would adapt to the equipment of the 80's and excel. But, while his current shot would destroy goalies of that era, the equipment he uses to maximize it wouldn't exist. No one is giving him a sakic/yzerman curve, with a low designed kick-point at 80/83 flex to shoot like he does now.

 

[Scott r]

If Matthews can win a few rockets, I think it is entirely fact. Especially if he can pot 55+ goal seasons 3-5 times. Multiple 60+ goal seasons would entirely cement this theory.

If...if...matthews had 1 great year scoring....let's not put him in mario category or Marcel dionne.

 

[Scott r]

Send any good NHL player back with modern equipment and training then they would obviously destroy the league (maybe not to Gretz or Mario levels), but you can't examine things like that. Matthews wrist shot and puck control wouldn't be the same without a tailored composite stick designed with an ideal curce, flex and kick point to maximize what he wants out of a stick. Current goalies with modern equipment allowing them to easily play in a butterfly without the weight of heavy pads weighing them down would also excel. More than any of the other big 4 sports in North America (and you could add soccer), hockey has been the most heavily altered by just technological advancements in equipment. I think it was at a Leafs outdoor practice/skate a couple years ago that Rielly and Gardiner tried using old-school wood sticks and almost lost their mind.

Matthews is a great player and I'm sure would adapt to the equipment of the 80's and excel. But, while his current shot would destroy goalies of that era, the equipment he uses to maximize it wouldn't exist. No one is giving him a sakic/yzerman curve, with a low designed kick-point at 80/83 flex to shoot like he does now.

dinner. Can have those arguments on any sport..matthews with all those stick advancements still was best in league scoring. As to other players using old sticks and saying no way....once you get used to that its your gamer......

 

[Maplebeasts]

I think he'll age very well as a goal scorer. It doesn't seem unrealistic that he could average 4 shots per game and score on every 6th one for the foreseeable future. That's a ~55 goal pace per 82. His career averages are 3.68 shots per game and 16.2 shooting percentage with both numbers trending up.

Usually your hands and shot will stay with you until you retire. Matthews will never lose those or his ability to find the soft spot in the o-zone.

 

[Menzinger]

Usually your hands and shot will stay with you until you retire. Matthews will never lose those or his ability to find the soft spot in the o-zone.

Yep. He also doesn't particularly rely on speed/rushes either so age/physical decline won't be as high a factor there either. The guy can generate a high danger chance from anywelhere

 

[RealisticLeaf55]

If...if...matthews had 1 great year scoring....let's not put him in mario category or Marcel dionne.

Hence why I put the "If" The answer is no with a stipulation. All of this was heavily implied.

 

[93LEAFS]

dinner. Can have those arguments on any sport..matthews with all those stick advancements still was best in league scoring. As to other players using old sticks and saying no way....once you get used to that its your gamer......

My point was you can't apply his shot now to goals and goaltending in the 80's.

 

[authentic]

My point was you can't apply his shot now to goals and goaltending in the 80's.

Matthews would dominate hockey back then, even with old equipment. But the same goes for any star player since the early 2000s.

 

[Papa Cherry]

Career PP Goals per 60min:

1. Matthews 3.25
2. Stamkos 3.17
3. Ovechkin 2.99

I'd like to see what their pp goals per 60min during their 60 goal seasons were. Obviously those guys are older and their career stats are watered down now.

 

[Dekes For Days]

I'd like to see what their pp goals per 60min during their 60 goal seasons were.

PP Goals per 60 min during their 60+ goal seasons (past 82 GP taken for Matthews)

Matthews: 3.53
Ovechkin: 2.87
Stamkos: 2.31

 

[cupcrazyman]

Don't forget back in the 70s Sittler scored 10 points in one game. I can't remember how many of those were goals, I think 6 or 7, but it could've been eight and McDavid is considered to be better than Sittler.

Vintage Leafs: Ten Point Boxscore

6 Goals
4 Assists

 

[Superstar]

Just found this beauty:

 

[Atomos2]

It’s time we start talking more about our MVP. This guy is coming into the playoffs after a tremendous rocket winning season. If the Leafs are gonna go far he should be driving the bus.

 

[mydnyte]

Matthews does dominate on the powerplay like Stamkos and Ovechkin. He just hasn't gotten the same PP time.

Matthews is not used as effectively as either Stamkos or OV ...their PP's are all calibrated to get the 1-timer off. ...not just cross seam passes for the 1-timer, but, 1 timer passes from the point, and slot too. every pass is set to open up any passing lane, and then

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