Auston Matthews is one of the players that attracts polarizing opinions in NHL fan bases around the world, and a recent list from the NHL has sparked a new debate.
In the dog days of the NHL offseason, the NHL released a ranked list of their top-20 centres and while the top three aren’t really questioned, everything after that appears to be up for debate. One of the things that fans are focusing on most is that immediately after Connor McDavid, Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, Auston Matthews comes in at the four spot.
Obviously, Leafs fans are cautiously optimistic about the ranking, but the rest of the league is outraged.
There were rational explanations of why they think Matthews is too high and there the fans that were just throwing a fit about the list.
While the list will never be able to please everyone, most supporters of Matthews position on the list would point ability to put the biscuit in the basket at even-strength. In his first two years in the league, he has put himself atop a pretty prestigious list of active players.
While we’re not sure we would rank him at the four spot now (Especially with MacKinnon’s breakout season last year), he has clearly shown the capability to rise to such a position. His third year in the league will decide a lot, including where he belongs on a list like this and how much he will be paid in 2019-20.
If Leafs fans think Matthews is a top-four centre in the league, they better be ready to pay him like one.
