In 2016, the Toronto Maple Leafs secured the first overall pick, leading to the selection of Auston Matthews over Patrik Laine. While Matthews became the franchise player and captain, Laine was considered by some as a potentially superior goal scorer. The Jets hoped Laine would be chosen, as the Tanking strategy aimed for Matthews. Since then, Matthews has excelled with impressive stats and awards, while Laine's performance has been inconsistent, leading to trade requests and a disappointing trajectory relative to his second-overall selection.
Auston Matthews has become the franchise player for the Toronto Maple Leafs, securing a Hart Trophy and three Rocket Richard awards, with 401 goals in 629 games.
Patrik Laine's career, while impressive, saw him struggle to maintain elite performance levels, especially post his move to Columbus and subsequent trades.
Collection
[
|
...
]