We know Auston Matthews scores at a ridiculous rate, but these numbers are astounding
Last season, Auston Matthews cemented himself in record books for the Toronto Maple Leafs, as he became the first Leaf to ever score 60 goals in a season, surpassing and destroying Rick Vaive's record of 54 goals in a season. Not only that, but Matthews put up 106 points and went on to win his second straight Rocket Richard trophy and captured both the Ted Lindsay Award (MVP voted on by players) and the Hart Trophy for league MVP. We all know Matthews scores at will, but when you look at the numbers since he entered the league, he has put himself well above the rest.
Debuting in October of 2016, Matthews burst onto the scene scoring 4 goals in his first game as a Leaf against the Sens. A sign of things to come as he went on to score 36 more giving him 40 in his rookie season. Since entering the league that season, Matthews has scored 259 goals, 46 behind Ovechkin's 305 in the same time, not mind-blowing, but its not the number of goals he's scored - it's in how few games he's scored them. Matthews has played just 407 games in his 6 years in the league, only playing all 82 games once in his rookie season while Ovechkin has played 514, Draisaitl has played 521 and McDavid has played 487. Draisaitl ranks third in goals since 2016, closely behind Matthews at 252, followed by McDavid at 239.
However, if we break the numbers down and look at goals per game since Matthews entered the league, he is scoring at a better pace than even Ovechkin, who is currently chasing Wayne Gretzky's all-time goal scoring record. Matthews is scoring at a 0.64 goals per game pace while Ovechkin is scoring at 0.60 goals per game. Not only is Matthews outscoring Ovechkin, but in goals per game, he blows McDavid and Draisaitl out of the water as they are only scoring at 0.49 and 0.48 goals per game.
Tell me again how Draisaitl is a better goal scorer, Oilers fans, I'll wait. While I'm waiting I'll tell you that Matthews is in a world of his own when it comes to goals per 60 minutes, averaging 1.96. Almost 2 goals a game essentially, which is preposterous in today's NHL. For some context, Ovechkin is only scoring 1.77 goals per 60 minutes. Oh and McDavid and Draisaitl, they're well outside the top 10 in this category scoring 1.36 and 1.39 goals per 60. The craziest thing about it is that all 3 of the aforementioned players are power play merchants, while Matthews does most of his goal scoring at 5v5.
Matthews is by far the best goal scorer in the NHL and has been since he entered the league. The scary thing is that he's only getting better. Barring injury, he should have no problems securing a third straight Rocket Richard this season.
| POLL | ||
AOUT 19 | 346 ANSWERS We know Auston Matthews scores at a ridiculous rate, but these numbers are astounding Will Matthews hit 70 goals in 2022-23? | ||
| If healthy, yes | 132 | 38.2 % |
| Not a chance | 60 | 17.3 % |
| He'll finish between 50 and 60 goals | 73 | 21.1 % |
| He'll be over 60, but not quite 70 | 81 | 23.4 % |
| List of polls | ||
