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With 5 video games remaining within the common season, the 26-year-old may develop into the primary to succeed in 70 objectives in a season since Teemu Selanne and Alexander Mogilny scored 76 in 1992-93.
Whereas particular person milestones are nice, that isn’t how most NHL gamers wish to be judged. Success within the Stanley Cup playoffs is the place legacies are made, however Toronto and Matthews have come up woefully quick there over the previous seven seasons.
Regardless of expertise that additionally contains forwards Mitch Marner, William Nylander, John Tavares and defenseman Morgan Reilly, the Maple Leafs have solely reached the second spherical of the playoffs once since Matthews joined the staff in 2016.
In a best-of-seven second-round sequence final season, Florida eradicated Toronto in 5 video games.
In 5 of the earlier six seasons, Toronto was eradicated within the first spherical. Within the COVID-19 season of 2019-20, the season they weren’t dismissed in first spherical, the Maple Leafs misplaced within the qualifying spherical.
Of the opposite 12 gamers who’ve scored 65 objectives in a season, 10 are among the many best to play the sport. Of these 10, Phil Esposito, Mike Bossy, Wayne Gretzky, Lanny McDonald, Jari Kurri, Mario Lemieux, Steve Yzerman, Brett Hull, Selanne and Ovechkin have received not less than one Stanley Cup.
If he stays wholesome, Matthews will discover himself someplace amongst these names in profession objectives. Except he and the Maple Leafs can determine the right way to dramatically enhance their playoff fortunes, nevertheless, Matthews may discover himself because the Marcel Dionne membership.
Corridor of Famer Dionne — who performed from 1971-89 for 3 groups — is sixth all time with 731 objectives, essentially the most profession objectives with out profitable a Stanley Cup.
Dionne was a terrific participant, however he is not how Matthews needs to be remembered.
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