Radio Host's Controversial Suggestion About Leafs Captain Auston Matthews Raising Some Eyebrows
Photo credit: Nick Turchiaro | Imagn Images
A radio host in Toronto recent made a controversial suggestion involving Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews, and it's certainly raised a few eyebrows.
A nagging injury that forced Auston Matthews to visit a specialist in Germany in mid-November hindered the 27-year-old's offensive output this past season, limiting him to just 33 goals and 67 games.
By NHL standards, 33 goals is considered a good-to-great year for most, but for the three-time Rocket Richard Trophy winner, it was his lowest goal total since his rookie season in the NHL in 2016-17.
While Leafs Nation is hoping that Matthews will return to the 2023-24 version of himself that saw him net 69 goals and 107 points, TSN 1050 OverDrive host Bryan Hayes doesn't believe Matthews will come close to the 60-goal mark again.
Are Auston Matthews' Highest Goal-Scoring Seasons Behind Him?
On 'OverDrive' this week, Hayes and Dave Feschuk were discussing whether Matthews would score more or less than 40 goals this season. Both suggested that while Matthews expects to be 100-percent come training camp, he will have to prove it.
They also mention the absence of Mitch Marner, who has been his primary set-up man, and the expected adjustment period with a new linemate.
Hayes also noted that throughout the history of the NHL, most of the elite players that produce ridiculous statistics typically do so in the first six to eight years in the league before it slowly tapers off.
"Guys get 10 years into their career -- it doesn't mean they still aren't great, it means they usually focus on different areas of their game. They've kind of done it all and seen it all. They've chased points. I think as players mature, they don't look at the game the same way. I think he should still be known as the best goal-scorer in the game and the best goal-scorer in the world. I do think it is reasonable to expect that he is going to hover around 40 the rest of his career and there is going to be a few years where he gets to 50, 52, 53, but 60-plus... He's done that twice. It's so tough to score 60. Ovechkin did it once. Stamkos did it once. McDavid did it and Auston's done it twice. To expect him to do it a third time... is asking way too much.
It's anyone's guess as to whether Matthews is actually back to full health. It's also anyone's guess as to whether he scores 60 again in his career.
It's anyone's guess as to whether Matthews is actually back to full health. It's also anyone's guess as to whether he scores 60 again in his career.
| POLL | ||
AOUT 15 | 1408 ANSWERS Radio Host's Controversial Suggestion About Leafs Captain Auston Matthews Raising Some Eyebrows Will Auston Matthews score more than 50 goals this season? | ||
| Yes | 801 | 56.9 % |
| No | 555 | 39.4 % |
| 50 on the nose | 52 | 3.7 % |
| List of polls | ||
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