Auston Matthews has surpassed 400 career goals and sits near the Maple Leafs' all-time goal total. Matthews possesses Hall of Fame-caliber credentials except for a Stanley Cup, has shown consistent improvement, and plays as a reliable two-way center and captain of Team USA. A recent top-10 centers ranking listed Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon, and Leon Draisaitl as the top three, with Aleksander Barkov fourth and Sidney Crosby fifth. Jack Eichel, Brayden Point, and Jack Hughes were ranked ahead of Matthews. Matthews recorded 33 goals and 78 points in 67 games while playing hurt, and Hughes missed significant time with a shoulder injury.
The 27-year-old has all the requisite hardware needed for the Hall of Fame (except a Stanley Cup) and has consistently shown his improvement across the board. He's blossomed into a reliable, two-way center and the captain of Team USA. So, why would Matthews fall in this year's NHL Network rankings for centers? In an August 24 appearance on NHL Network, analyst Mike Rupp unveiled his list of the NHL's top-10 centers. Topping the list are Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon, and Leon Draisaitl.
Sure, Rupp is entitled to his opinion, but the numbers and the eye test conflict with his assessment. Matthews notched 33 goals and 78 points in 67 games, while playing hurt most of the season. While we don't know the precise nature of his injury, Matthews was dominant when needed. As for Hughes, he had an injury-filled season. He played in 62 games and missed the rest of the season with a shoulder injury. If he had played the entire season, he could have topped 100 points.
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