Auston Matthews

I expect that he will perform somewhere between 2 other #1 picks, Mario Lemieux and Alexandre Daigle.
 
I expect that he will perform somewhere between 2 other #1 picks, Mario Lemieux and Alexandre Daigle.

I expect that you are right..........on! :high5::drum::doh::biggrin::thumb:
 
https://www.thestar.com/sports/brea...tthews-mitch-marner-to-work-out-together.html

Ok, now that he is drafted, what are your expectations for young Auston for year 1 and the next 5 years?

I expect him to score 25-30 goals and win Rookie of the Year in year 1. Over the next 5 years I expect him to be as good or better than Jonathan Toews (who was only a #3 draft pick). Maybe even as good as Connor McDavid or Sidney Crosby.


Unlike NBA ...NHL young'ns need a good team to succeed. Matthews will only be as good as his linemates....with good to average linemates I see him scoring 50pts
 
Unlike NBA ...NHL young'ns need a good team to succeed. Matthews will only be as good as his linemates....with good to average linemates I see him scoring 50pts
Toews and Kane were both drafted in the same year. However, we have Matthews and Marner (although drafted a year apart). Auston will lead the Leafs out of the wilderness.
 
As talented as the Toews' and Kane's, they still needed time to develop into the players they are today. Even if Matthews has a good first season, there's still no guarantee that he'll be a star like Toew or Kane. Daigle had 20 goals in his first season and still turned out to be a bust.

So rather than focussing on anyone particular young player, I'd be more interested in seeing how as a team the Leafs will improve next season.

Babcock has had one full season to inplement his system and "teach" the players how he'd like them to play within that structure. The veterans should know by now what are the expectations and it should make it easier to break in the kids.

I'd think Babcock will now want to show us how good a coach he really is and push the team to a playoff spot as close as possible. The key for any success imho will as always be goaltending.
 
McDavid had 48 pts in 45 games last year. The bar is high. I don't think Matthews gets to that PPG level but I think a 60-65 point season is attainable for his first season. He will get tons of ice time.
 
The coaches will bring him slowly along and not rush him. Matthews will do good this coming season and will lead in the leafs in the future.
 
Rookie camp opened to-day. Observers said they are surprised at Auston's foot speed.

What's the surprise? He was always considered an elite skater. Maybe these observers don't often see 6'2 guys that can skate.
 
Maybe these observers don't often see 6'2 guys that can skate.
Maybe those observers were accustomed to seeing Phaneurf speed? Kessel is pretty fast but I don't think he's even 6' feet tall.

All the attention was focused on Matthews so didn't hear any comments about Marner's speed.
 
I am not a Leaf fan but everytime i have seen Auston in an interview, he is such a good kid. We talk about his hockey skills but not about his personality. He is going to be a great alround good hockey player.
 
Laine will win ROY, Mathews will struggle with little talent around him and the team will continue to lose. After six years of missing the playoffs he will leave and go home to play for the Coyotes.
 
Laine will win ROY, Mathews will struggle with little talent around him and the team will continue to lose. After six years of missing the playoffs he will leave and go home to play for the Coyotes.
No! No! No! I fully expect Matthews and Marner will do in Toronto what Toews and Kane are doing in Chicago. Physically, Matthews and Marner are about the same size as Toews and Kane.
 
Laine will win ROY, Mathews will struggle with little talent around him and the team will continue to lose. After six years of missing the playoffs he will leave and go home to play for the Coyotes.

You expect the Coyotes to be in Arizona in 6 years?
 
No prospect has turned out in Toronto since Vincent Damphousse so the odds against Mathews are pretty strong. It;s inevitable that this pattern will change some day, but I won;t'believe it until I see it.
 
Mathews has yet to sign his entry level contract, rumours are Lou doesn't like giving performance bonuses to rookies and considering Laine got a deal that includes up to $2.65 million in performance bonuses it's going to be interesting to see if Lou caves in and does something he hates doing.
 
40-45 pts for his rookie season. Matthews is more of 2-way player like Teows won't put up numbers like Kane. However, I can see Marner putting up great numbers much like Kane and don't be surprised if Marner is considered for rookie of the year.