Why is Auston Matthews considered a top 10 player?

[Filatov2Kovalev2Bonk]

He is 100% an elite player. He is near impossible to move off a puck, can find the smallest seam to skate in, can score from the tiniest opportunity, can lift his line, is quite responsible defensively and has one of the best releases in the league.

Underestimate Matthews at your peril, or he will get his against your team and goalie.

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

because he's arguably the best goal scorer in the league and the completeness of his game is ridiculous.
the real question is why was Edmonton considered the #2 cup contender this season?

 

[ohcomeonref]

It amazes me to read top-10 centers lists in these threads and to never see Getzlaf on them.

 

[Whaleafs]

Matthews was third in points and first in plus minus before his first injury this season. Only 7 back in the goal scoring race now with 8-10 less games than the top 3 guys. Not to mention his 200 foot game. Top 10 player, needs a larger sample size to crack top 5.

 

[Hogan86]

Why is Auston Matthews considered a top-ten, even top-five player already? Obviously he had an incredible rookie season, but having him rated above guys like Stamkos, Schiefele, etc is unjustified imo. I will name all the forwards I think are better than him.

(In no order)

McDavid
Stamkos
Kucherov
Crosby
Malkin
Ovechkin
Tarasenko
Tavares
Benn
Backstrom
Kane
Gaudreau
Schiefele
Wheeler

Just of the top of my head. In the future Matthews could pass most of these guys, but why is he already considered so great? Toronto Bias?

I think the hate Matthews's gets is a little unwarranted. Alot of Leafs fan will agree that he isn't a top 10 player at this moment,(myself included) but he will be for sure. Why is he considered great you ask? Well he does have 57 goals in his first 112 games. That is pretty damn impressive, especially coming onto a team that was dead last his draft year. Not many on that list have had that big an impact that early in their career.

 

[BruinLVGA]

NHL.com - Stats

NHL.com - Stats

NHL.com - Stats

NHL.com - Stats

NHL.com - Stats

NHL.com - Stats

NHL.com - Stats
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[613Leafer]

He's a PPG player, and has only been on the ice for 18 goals against at even-strength (and that's on one of the weaker defensive teams in the league).

By comparison, the guys listed by the OP:

McDavid - 35
Stamkos - 21
Kucherov - 25
Crosby - 36
Malkin - 30
Ovechkin -29
Tarasenko - 23
Tavares - 44
Benn - 31
Backstrom - 22
Kane - 32
Gaudreau - 29
Schiefele - 29
Wheeler - 32

So... he has better goals against stats than every single guy the OP listed. Obviously hockey is a team sport and guys goals against stats can be a bit misleading, but considering the context that Matthews is doing this on a below average defensive team in the NHL, I think it's very impressive.

Is he overhyped? Personally I think he gets virtually zero recognition for his defensive game, and I think his offensive game is hyped pretty fairly.

 

[joe dirte]

Lol at the start of the year when he was tearing up the league all these oilers fans blood boiled, that he was even mentioned with McDavid, by many hockey analysts mind you.

Now Matthews is out for 10 games, and obviously his point and goal totals drop as a result, and he’s some scrub all of a sudden.

[MOD]

thats the funny part. they sit there and bash one player, it appears mostly because of insecurity, while the leafs build an entire elite team.

 

[A1LeafNation]

Elite goal scorer. Elite defensively.
Top5- top10 player right now.

Lol at op posting one dimensional offensive players.

 

[Petrus]

Who cares , op? I’m wondering what Matthews likes to eat for breakfast. Don’t think we’ve had that thread yet

Great Question! Does anybody know?

And as a follow up question, does he wear Oilers 97 pajamas to sleep?

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

Why do people keep saying Matthews missed 8 games, I've seen it in multiple threads. He's missed 10.

exactly, and missing 10 games through 40 games is very significant. Similar statistically to missing 20 games by the end of the year. Does anyone with a brain really expect anyone with 60 games played to be among the top goal scorers compared to players who played a full season?

 

[TheRexman]

Why is Auston Matthews considered a top-ten, even top-five player already? Obviously he had an incredible rookie season, but having him rated above guys like Stamkos, Schiefele, etc is unjustified imo. I will name all the forwards I think are better than him.

(In no order)

McDavid
Stamkos
Kucherov
Crosby
Malkin
Ovechkin
Tarasenko
Tavares
Benn
Backstrom
Kane
Gaudreau
Schiefele
Wheeler

Just of the top of my head. In the future Matthews could pass most of these guys, but why is he already considered so great? Toronto Bias?

Awwww it's ok. You guys might make the playoffs next year! Doubtful, but maybe!

 

[daver]

Elite goal scorer. Elite defensively.
Top5- top10 player right now.

Lol at op posting one dimensional offensive players.

Yeah, who needs offense from a Top 6 forward. Funny how you just mention the D-word and it elevates a player up multiple tiers.

 

[McDavidCrushedLarkin]

Why is Auston Matthews considered a top-ten, even top-five player already? Obviously he had an incredible rookie season, but having him rated above guys like Stamkos, Schiefele, etc is unjustified imo. I will name all the forwards I think are better than him.

(In no order)

McDavid
Stamkos
Kucherov
Crosby
Malkin
Ovechkin
Tarasenko
Tavares
Benn
Backstrom
Kane
Gaudreau
Schiefele
Wheeler

Just of the top of my head. In the future Matthews could pass most of these guys, but why is he already considered so great? Toronto Bias?

Because #Leaffans. Do you remember when Luke Schenn was the best defensive defenseman in the league? LOL. Could you imagine if McDavid was in Matthews place? It would be multiple levels and tiers worse.

 

[Morbo]

Because #Leaffans. Do you remember when Luke Schenn was the best defensive defenseman in the league? LOL. Could you imagine if McDavid was in Matthews place? It would be multiple levels and tiers worse.

Come on now.

 

[TheRexman]

Because #Leaffans. Do you remember when Luke Schenn was the best defensive defenseman in the league? LOL. Could you imagine if McDavid was in Matthews place? It would be multiple levels and tiers worse.

A lot worse, considering McDavid would be dominating in the playoffs instead of watching from Edmonton this spring!

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

A lot worse, considering McDavid would be dominating in the playoffs instead of watching from Edmonton this spring!

well idk, he didn't exactly dominate last year. he was outperformed by Matthews (another reason Matthews is regarded so highly)

 

[McDavidCrushedLarkin]

A lot worse, considering McDavid would be dominating in the playoffs instead of watching from Edmonton this spring!

Let me know when Matthews doesn't get hammered out in the 1st round bud. His first season is looking more like a fluke than the norm.

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

Let me know when Matthews doesn't get hammered out in the 1st round bud. His first season is looking more like a fluke than the norm.

he's outperforming his first season, genius

 

[McDavidCrushedLarkin]

he's outperforming his first season, genius

Cool. When can I expect to see him on the 1st page of NHL scoring without having to ruin my mouse wheel scrolling down and flipping pages?

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

Cool. When can I expect to see him on the 1st page of NHL scoring without having to ruin my mouse wheel scrolling down and flipping pages?

when he doesn't have 25% fewer games played than others. [mod]

 

[TheRexman]

Cool. When can I expect to see him on the 1st page of NHL scoring without having to ruin my mouse wheel scrolling down and flipping pages?

Well Matthews missed a few games.

Why are you guys so far down the standings when you have the best player to ever play a sport ever?

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

1st year: 40G, 69 points
2nd year: on pace for 46G, 85 points + way improved defensively

yeah obviously he sucks now and his 1st season was a fluke

 

[Space Coyote]

Let me know when Matthews doesn't get hammered out in the 1st round bud. His first season is looking more like a fluke than the norm.

Talking about flukes the Oilers are looking more like it. From cup contenders last year to pretenders with another lottery finish in April.

 

[McDavidCrushedLarkin]

when he doesn't have 25% fewer games played than others. [mod]

Injuries are certainly a concern. [mod]