Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews is in the process of delivering one of the most offensively-dominant campaigns in hockey history and he is still underrated in the Hart Trophy conversation. Seriously.
Matthews has been white-hot for the Leafs lately, sinking his 49th goal of the season in Toronto’s 4-2 win over the St. Louis Blues on Monday [19 February].
“We had a really good effort tonight,” Matthews said of Toronto’s performance. “The first period was kind of stagnant, [but] we picked it up in the second and played a really solid game. All four lines played well. [Ilya] Samsonov was really solid for us. It was a good game.”
The American is on pace to smash his previous season record for goals and is blowing his competition for the most valuable player award out of the water in terms of goal-scoring.
Nikita Kucherov, who currently leads the league in points, is yet to record a 48-goal season. Neither has Nathan MacKinnon. But Matthews has already hit that coveted plateau this term, having only made 53 appearances and with the trade deadline yet to come.
If the 26-year-old continues to score at his current clip, he will finish the season with a stunning 75-goal haul. It’s a legendary effort from a player who isn’t attracting a tonne of buzz in the Hart Trophy discussion. We should probably change that.
Why Auston Matthews should have your vote for the 2023-24 Hart Trophy?
Matthews has been on a whole other level this season and could break his previous 60-goal record within a matter of weeks.
The former Zurich Lion has six hattricks to his name, which is tied for the 11th most in NHL history, and ranks second in primary point scoring across the league.
Matthews is also a candidate for the Selke Trophy, with his defensive play catching the eye. Released from the injury trouble that plagued him last season, he is back to being an unstoppable force in all three zones, spelling trouble for the rest of the league.
Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs (Image: Azadeh Kashani)
All this in the context of the Maple Leafs’ relative struggles. Sheldon Keefe’s men have taken a backward step this season, with Matthews a very notable exception to the rule.
With those factors in mind, there is no doubt that the former first-overall pick is one of the most valuable players in the NHL.
Who is Auston Matthews’ competition for the Hart Trophy?
Per The Athletic, Matthews currently sits fourth in the Hart Trophy race, with Connor McDavid, Quinn Hughes, and MacKinnon leading the way for hockey’s top individual award. Kucherov closes out the top five, with Florida Panthers forward Sam Reinhart and New York Islanders defenceman Noah Dobson trailing behind.
McDavid is usually the obvious choice for the Hart, but he was forced to fight his way back into contention after making a slow start to the season due to injuries. Since then, the Edmonton Oilers star has been completely and utterly dominant, with 24 points (five goals, 19 assists) in his last 10 appearances. Ridiculous.
Vancouver Canucks defenceman Hughes has stunned the hockey world with his level of play this season. The 24-year-old already has 68 points (12 goals, 56 assists) to his name and looks a dead cert for the Norris Trophy.
Colorado Avalanche forward MacKinnon is one of the only players in the sport who boasts a comparable skillset to McDavid. The Canadian is already up to 91 points (33 goals, 58 assists) on the season and is on pace to finish the year with a 133-point haul.
