Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews receives massive endorsement from NHL Network

Having scored the most goals in the league since Mario Lemieux in 1995-96, Auston Matthews has been nothing short of a magician on the ice wherever he goes. With a lightning quick release and elite vision and hockey IQ he has cemented himself as the the face of the Leafs and one of the faces of the entire league.

This output has led him to several awards including the Rocket Richard trophy for being the league's top goal scorer; and it's given him yet another podium to stand on.

There's no question that Matthews is part of the most elite in the league when it comes to centres, and NHL Network clearly took notice; Matthews shoots up to 3rd on their most recent Top 20 Centre rankings; usurping Edmonton Oilers dynamo Leon Draisaitl.

It's going to be difficult to pass the top two on the list though, as Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon are two of the greatest players of this generation; with McDavid feeling like a modern day Wayne Gretzky on some nights. MacKinnon comes in at #2 after winning the Hart Trophy and finishing the season with an ungodly 140 points.

McDavid had yet another incredible season with 132 points while leading the Oilers to the Stanley Cup Final; McDavid has an absurd 982 points in 645 games which definitively cements him as the greatest player in the league.

He's a 5-time Art Ross winner, 3-time Hart Trophy winner, 4-time Ted Lindsay winner, 1-time Rocket Richard winner, and 1-time Conn Smythe winner (even though he lost in the Finals).

It's no surprise to see these two men leading the charge, but more interestingly is that Matthews continues to creep up the rankings. If he were to put together another 65+ goal season alongside a deep playoff run (and possibly a Cup) then he could very well see himself alongside McDavid come the 2025-2026 rankings.

Source: HockeyDB
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