Auston Matthews narrowing the gap between he and Connor McDavid
Auston Matthews and Connor McDavid represent the current generation of elite NHL superstars. They're two of the most exciting players to watch, putting on a show each and every night and it makes Leafs vs Oilers games must-see television.
If you ask most hockey fans, McDavid is the consensus best player in the NHL. He leads the league in points most seasons and is one of the most impressive players the sport has ever seen. That being said, while the narrative with McDavid being that he is in his own stratosphere as far as talent goes, the fact of the matter is that Auston Matthews is not as far behind him as some think.
The reigning Rocket Richard Trophy winner is always a threat to score and has emerged as one of the league's best two-way centers this season. The two play very different styles that allow them to be superstars in the NHL in their own way. The question is, what is the gap in ability between Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews?
McDavid has eclipsed 100 points 4 times in his NHL career, including last years 56 game season. McDavid is a 3-time Art Ross Trophy winner, 2-time Hart Trophy winner, and 3-time Ted Lindsay Award winner. McDavid is the complete package offensively. He scores goals, he's an elite playmaker, he's one of the fastest players in the league, and defenders are always weary of him when he's on the ice and even the League's elite goalies are at his mercy. With that being said, his biggest issue is the defensive side of his game.
McDavid isn't exactly bad defensively but he is below average for a center. If you watch the Oilers, a lot of McDavid's defensive lapses don't stem from a lack of ability but more so from a lack of effort. McDavid does not have the same drive in his own end as he does in the offensive zone. McDavid tends to get burned defensively as a result. He has gotten better defensively over the years but he's not on the same level of Auston Matthews in that regard.
Matthews has made significant improvements to his defensive game throughout his NHL career and his still maintained his elite goal scoring abilities. Matthews is 7th in the entire NHL in takeaways, 4th for forwards and has a takeaway to giveaway ratio of 1.42. Matthews has elevated himself to one of the best two-way players in hockey and is a threat in both ends of the ice. Matthews should be in both the Rocket Richard and Selke race for the rest of this season with a strong second half.
There are very few players in hockey who can score at a 60-goal pace while also playing Selke caliber defence. It is part of what makes Matthews such a special player. Despite a slow start and offseason wrist surgery he is in the hunt to win the goal scoring race yet again. He's already one of the greatest Leafs in franchise history.
I don't think it is unfair to say that Auston Matthews is a more complete player than Connor McDavid. He is much better defensively and he scores more goals. Both Matthews and McDavid are generational talents. I think McDavid's offensive abilities gives him a slight edge but the gap between the two is not large and it is not a hot take to say that #34 is in the same echelon as #97.
