Why is Auston Matthews considered a top 10 player?

[Holymakinaw]

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?

Matthews is not a top 5 or even top 10 player...........yet. Don't know who is saying otherwise, but I suspect that a bunch of Leaf haters like to say that Leaf fans are saying it. Other than a few dolts, we are NOT.

I would add in D-men and goalies, as we're talking about "top players in the league", no? I think Matthews is easily a top 20 player, tho. He has the potential to shoot up this list.

McDavid
Kucherov
Stamkos
Crosby
Karlsson
Vasilevsky
Hotby
Tarasenko
Benn
Malkin
Ovechkin
Burns
Shiefele
Tavares
Backstrom
Gudreau
Matthews

 

[Bladerunner]

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?

That's a pretty good sarcastic reply (I'm sure you realize AM had missed games).

Amusing seeing the McDavid vs. Matthews trash fest. Barring serious injury, I'm sure they'll both have high end careers. Way too early to know who will have the better career, if there will even be a big diff at the end.

 

[Filatov2Kovalev2Bonk]

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

Honestly he doesn't look very speedy out there.
Why don't we swap Matt Duchene for Matthews, maybe throw in Chabot for Liljegren and your 2nd in 2019?
You'd be getting speed, a proven PP producer and we'd be taking a loss.

 

[Cotton]

Matthews is not a top 5 or even top 10 player...........yet. Don't know who is saying otherwise, but I suspect that a bunch of Leaf haters like to say that Leaf fans are saying it. Other than a few dolts, we are NOT.

I would add in D-men and goalies, as we're talking about "top players in the league", no? I think Matthews is easily a top 20 player, tho. He has the potential to shoot up this list.

McDavid
Kucherov
Stamkos
Crosby
Karlsson
Vasilevsky
Hotby
Tarasenko
Benn
Malkin
Ovechkin
Burns
Shiefele
Tavares
Backstrom
Gudreau
Matthews

I agree with this, BobMac agreed last year he was a top 25 player in the league. If we assume Bob was thinking he was exactly 25th around the mid-point of his rookie campaign then Auston undoubtedly climbed those rankings.

My own list: Crosby, Kucherov, Karlsson, Doughty, McDavid, Malkin
———-
I’d put him somewhere in this next group with: Gaudreau, Kopitar, Benn, Scheifele, Backstrom, Stamkos, Tavares, Subban, maybe a couple more.

 

[Panthaz89]

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.

LOL if there is anything its the Leafs fans that overrate his defensive game.....as they have to point it out in every argument. I hardly notice him make an impact in his own zone but rather puck possession.

 

[Maplebeasts]

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.

[mod] Quote or get out.

 

[Cotton]

LOL if there is anything its the Leafs fans that overrate his defensive game.....as they have to point it out in every argument. I hardly notice him make an impact in his own zone but rather puck possession.

Pepper your posts with more LOL’s, maybe it’ll help hide the fact you don’t know what your talking about.

 

[Maplebeasts]

Marchand deserves to be listed in the op ahead of him. Dude is freaking over looked. Easily a top 5 forward the last 2-3 years.

No he doesn't. Way older, comparable offensively and defensively, but plays with much better line mates and the less valuable position. There's no one on the planet who takes Marchand over Matthews with a gun to their head.

 

[Panthaz89]

Pepper your posts with more LOL’s, maybe it’ll help hide the fact you don’t know what your talking about.

I'll take notes 2-3 years down the road when the Leafs have to pay their young players and have no cap room thanks to the hype of their own players.

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

I'll take notes 2-3 years down the road when the Leafs have to pay their young players and have no cap room thanks to the hype of their own players.

This is true. When young players want to sign contracts they link their team's board on hf to management to cite how great the fans think they are and get paid way too much

 

[C77]

This endless Edmonton, Winnipeg, Toronto measuring contest is rather tiring.

I am not a Leafs fan but Matthews is ridiculous...clearly top 10 in my mind.

 

[Cotton]

I'll take notes 2-3 years down the road when the Leafs have to pay their young players and have no cap room thanks to the hype of their own players.

No silly, I said more LOLs, not less. Now in addition to looking lost you come off as bitter too.

 

[BruinLVGA]

That's a pretty good sarcastic reply (I'm sure you realize AM had missed games).

Amusing seeing the McDavid vs. Matthews trash fest. Barring serious injury, I'm sure they'll both have high end careers. Way too early to know who will have the better career, if there will even be a big diff at the end.

I thought so too. Major burn...

 

[Straight Fire]

Damn, as traditionally a Leafs hater (but growing fan now), I have to say IMO Matthews is top 10 player, and maybe even top 5. I could see him consistently with the top 4 or so in years to come. His shot (timing, release, velocity) is phenomenal; his speed is great for a big man; his hockey sense/IQ is top notch; his hands are soft . . . There's really nothing not to like, and the ceiling is really high IMO.

 

[Panthaz89]

The Leafs are hardly even rivals with the Sabres so that doesn't make any sense. They play in the same division but have a horrible record H2H against the Sabres all-time. I hate Boston, Montreal, and the Senators way more than the Leafs. The funny part is that you think this has anything to do with the Sabres as I have never mentioned them once.

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

The Leafs are hardly even rivals with the Sabres so that doesn't make any sense. They play in the same division but have a horrible record H2H against the Sabres all-time. I hate Boston, Montreal, and the Senators way more than the Leafs. The funny part is that you think this has anything to do with the Sabres as I have never mentioned them once.

Would have saved you a lot of time if you realized he was replying to an oilers fan

 

[BruinLVGA]

No he doesn't. Way older, comparable offensively and defensively, but plays with much better line mates and the less valuable position. There's no one on the planet who takes Marchand over Matthews with a gun to their head.

Yes, he does.

Since Matthews got in the league: Marchand 109 games, 117 points, +31... Matthews 112 games, 100 points, +18. Much better advanced stats too.

This is not about trade value (that’s why you mentioned age & position), it’s about who’s better and Marchand is better.

 

[IPS]

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?

Matthews is hands down better than these players. Sorry it bothers you so much

 

[Panthaz89]

Would have saved you a lot of time if you realized he was replying to an oilers fan

True that

 

[WetcoastOrca]

Matthews isn't a top 10 player yet.
But if you're starting a team he's one of the top five players you'd choose because of his potential and youth.
That doesn't make him a top 10 player at this time and there is no real statistical argument that supports putting him in the top 10 yet.

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

Matthews isn't a top 10 player yet.
But if you're starting a team he's one of the top five players you'd choose because of his potential and youth.
That doesn't make him a top 10 player at this time.

yeah but IIRC, the list was meant to be a projection of who could be expected to be a top 10 player for this season. I don't think it was that far off considering they weren't counting on him missing a quarter of the season early on

 

[WetcoastOrca]

yeah but IIRC, the list was meant to be a projection of who could be expected to be a top 10 player for this season. I don't think it was that far off considering they weren't counting on him missing a quarter of the season early on

No. The OPquestion was why is Matthews considered a top 10 player already?
And the answer should be that he isn't.
Missing 10 games shouldn't change anyone's mind.

 

[BruinLVGA]

Matthews isn't a top 10 player yet.
But if you're starting a team he's one of the top five players you'd choose because of his potential and youth.
That doesn't make him a top 10 player at this time and there is no real statistical argument that supports putting him in the top 10 yet.

I agree. I think he will be top 10, but now? Naw. If you look solely at points, since he entered the league, he is 26th. And then consider the top D’s (example Hedman) and the few top goalies who are more valuable as players and he is most definitely not close to the top 10-15 NOW.

 

[Hunter368]

Matthews isn't a top 10 player yet.
But if you're starting a team he's one of the top five players you'd choose because of his potential and youth.
That doesn't make him a top 10 player at this time and there is no real statistical argument that supports putting him in the top 10 yet.

This is a very accurate post. AM is good player, lots of potential but by no means top 10 currently. Love to have him of course.

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

No. The OPquestion was why is Matthews considered a top 10 player already?
And the answer should be that he isn't.
Missing 10 games shouldn't change anyone's mind.

then he should have cited something to show that the consensus is he's a top 10 or even 5 player