Since coming into the league, there isn’t a query that Auston Matthews has change into one of many most prolific goal-scorers the league has ever seen. Matthews has already began his climb up the lively objectives leaders within the NHL, and there’s a likelihood that he can enter the highest 10, or a minimum of come very near it as quickly as this coming season.
For the reason that NHL’s lockout in 2004-05, there hasn’t been a lot of an argument towards Alexander Ovechkin as the highest goal-scorer. Nonetheless, over the past variety of years, with the mixture of Ovechkin getting old and Matthews simply hitting full stride, the title has been handed over. If Matthews can enter the highest 10 in league scoring amongst lively gamers this season, he’ll additional add to his resume as one of many biggest scorers in historical past.
Matthews’ Historic Run To 350 Targets
Within the 2023-24 season, Matthews recorded 69 objectives, which introduced him to a complete of 368 in simply 562 video games. With these 69 objectives, he handed the 350 mark, and he did so in simply his 535th profession recreation. That ranks because the sixth-fastest participant to achieve that mark, trailing simply Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Brett Hull, Mike Bossy, and Jari Kurri.
Not solely did Matthews be part of elite firm by reaching this mark so rapidly, however he hit 350 objectives quicker than some very notable names, together with Ovechkin, Gordie Howe, Jaromir Jagr, Marcel Dionne, Phil Esposito, and others who all rank within the prime 10 all-time for objectives.
Matthews nonetheless has a methods to go earlier than difficult for among the prime spots within the NHL’s lively participant record, however closing in on the highest 10 this season may very well be a really practical factor.
Matthews Closes In On Prime 10 In Targets Amongst Energetic Gamers
The present record of the highest 10 gamers in objectives has some fairly elite names. Previous to the 2024-25 season beginning, right here is how the record seems to be:
- Alexander Ovechkin (853)
- Sidney Crosby (592)
- Steven Stamkos (555)
- Evgeni Malkin (498)
- Patrick Kane (471)
- John Tavares (456)
- Corey Perry (429)
- Anze Kopitar (419)
- Phil Kessel* (413)
- Brad Marchand (401)
- Jamie Benn (383)
- Jonathan Toews* (372)
- Auston Matthews (368)
There may be an argument available that Matthews is already the Eleventh-ranked participant on this record as each Phil Kessel and Jonathan Toews are inactive within the NHL, however haven’t introduced their retirement. With Eric Staal, Joe Pavelski, and Zach Parise saying their retirement, Matthews has already moved up three spots this offseason.
Matthews has scored 60+ objectives twice in his profession now, and it’s practical to assume he may do it once more. He presently sits 33 objectives behind Brad Marchand for the tenth spot on the record, that means he wants to attain a minimum of 34 extra objectives than him this season to go him on this record.
Associated: 7 Cool Issues About Auston Matthews
During the last three seasons mixed, Matthews has scored 169 objectives, and Marchand has scored 82. With Matthews scoring a mean of 29 extra objectives than Marchand, together with 40 extra objectives final season, it’s definitely inside the realm of risk for him to go Marchand on the record.
How Excessive Can Matthews Get On The Checklist?
Even when Matthews can’t rating 33 extra objectives than Marchand, there’s a path to him coming into the highest 10 record this season. At this level, it doesn’t look like Kessel will play, due to this fact won’t rating any extra objectives, so a 45-goal season from Matthews would see him go Kessel on the record, bringing him into the record as nicely.
As for catching Anze Kopitar or Corey Perry, this can be very unlikely, however then once more, so was the concept of Matthews scoring 69 objectives at one level.
Since he has performed it twice up to now three years, let’s assume Matthews scores 60 objectives on the dot this season. If he does that, it is going to carry his complete to 428, which places him at eighth. Kopitar will definitely rating greater than 10 objectives this season, bumping Matthews to ninth, Kessel doesn’t venture to attain any, maintaining Matthews at ninth, and Marchand would want to attain lower than 27 objectives, which has been proper round his common over the past 5 seasons.
Even when Marchand does rating his 27 or extra objectives, Matthews will definitely go Toews and Jamie Benn, planting him within the tenth spot on the lively goal-scoring record. Matthews, who simply turned 27 years outdated, is a minimum of six years youthful than anyone else on this. He’s cementing a legacy as certainly one of, if not the very best goal-scorer in historical past.
