Auston Matthews and Connor McDavid have become closer friends off the ice.
The star centers sometimes skate together in the summer and now have the same agent.
They also have different perspectives on each other's experiences as prominent figures in the NHL.
Matthews, the talented shooter for the Maple Leafs, has a great deal of admiration for McDavid, both as a player and a person, acknowledging the heavy responsibilities that come with his status.
The pair will once again be in the spotlight when Toronto hosts McDavid’s Edmonton Oilers on Saturday.
And this time, it's not just because of their well-known names.
Matthews has scored 57 goals in 67 games, aiming to be the first NHL player to reach 70 goals since 1992-93.
McDavid, on the other hand, has 86 assists in 65 games and is on track to achieve 100 assists for the first time since 1990-91.
“They’ve been incredible,” Leafs captain John Tavares said after Friday’s practice. “With their skill set and the impact they've had on the game, they're going to define this generation of players. They're changing the game in many ways.”
Tavares has observed this closely.
The 33-year-old center, who like Matthews and McDavid was the first pick in the draft, narrowly missed out on the 2014-15 Art Ross Trophy, which was won by Jamie Benn with a total of 87 points.
That total wouldn’t even make it into the current top 10 with over 3 weeks left in the season.
“It may seem like a long time ago,” Tavares said. “But it really isn't that long.”
According to Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe, the increase in scoring across the league is partially due to changes in the rules.
“Having said that,” he added, “the level of talent among players is extraordinary when we start discussing some of these individuals.”
Matthews stated that the on-ice summer training sessions with the fast McDavid are beneficial for both of them.
“Everyone has different strengths and weaknesses,” said Matthews, who has one of the best releases with the puck in hockey. “His game is very unique, and there are many aspects of his game, particularly his skating, that I'm not as skilled in. There's hardly anybody else in the world — maybe just one other person — who can skate like him.
“You just try to pick up various elements and incorporate them into your own game, and play to your strengths.”
The last NHL players to score 70 goals were Teemu Selanne and Alexander Mogilny when they each had 76 in 1992-93.
The most recent player to achieve over 100 assists was Wayne Gretzky, who did it 11 times and is one of only three men to do so — this happened approximately 33 years ago.
“They've done an outstanding job,” Tavares said about McDavid and Matthews setting a higher standard. “Their impact on the game, their dominance, and their consistent performance every night.”
The Leafs (39-20-9) are currently holding the No. 3 spot in the Atlantic Division and are unlikely to move before the regular season ends.
Meanwhile, the Oilers (42-21-4) still have their sights set on securing the top spot in the Pacific, thanks to their recent 9-1-2 performance.
However, McDavid wasn't pleased with his team's last two games — a 3-2 overtime loss to Montreal and an 8-3 win against Buffalo, which involved trailing 2-0 and then scoring five goals in the third period.
"We could have lost those games," said the captain of Edmonton to reporters in Alberta's capital after Thursday's victory. "We would be having a different conversation."
Matthews mentioned that his team needs to be prepared for the spotlight at Scotiabank Arena.
"They are one of the most successful teams in the league," he stated. "They have not slowed down."
The star attractions for Saturday have also not slowed down.
CHASING 50
Zach Hyman, a winger for the Oilers, has scored an impressive 48 goals this season and has the potential to reach 50 against his former team.
The 31-year-old, who never scored more than 21 goals in his five full seasons with Toronto, joined Edmonton in July 2021.
In his first two seasons with the Oilers, Hyman scored 27 and 36 goals before breaking out in 2023-24.
"His development has been remarkable," Tavares remarked. "Not many people expected him to be achieving what he's on the verge of doing."
MARNER MISSING
Mitch Marner, a winger for the Leafs, will be out for the weekend, as Toronto is set to play in Carolina on Sunday, due to a high ankle sprain that has already caused him to miss five games.
BRODIE SITS
T.J. Brodie, once a key player on the blue line, seems likely to be benched for the second consecutive game as a healthy scratch.
"Brodie is a better player than his recent performance," Keefe commented. "He has also played better than people might think."
"I just want him to clear his head," the coach added. "He's been struggling since the start of training camp."
This article by The Canadian Press was originally published on March 22, 2024.
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