• HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • Site Index
  • NHL Salary Caps
  • Hockey 101: A Beginner’s Guide
  • Join Our Team
  • Free Newsletter
  • Store
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
Home
Editor's Choice

Maple Leafs News: The Auston Matthews Effect

By Anthony Fusco May 2nd, 2016

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

The Toronto Maple Leafs had a lot break their way this year. They were able to shed the  long-term cap space of both Phil Kessel and Dion Phaneuf, the latter without any hint of salary retained. They traded veteran players away and stocked the cupboards with prospects and draft picks. At this time, they have 12 selections, including two first rounders.

They called up the kids from their American Hockey League affiliate, the Toronto Marlies. Those same Marlies had a historic season, finishing at the top of the standings with 114 points. The next closest team only had 102. They also just swept the Bridgeport Sound Tigers in their first round playoff series.

Many of the players in the current postseason run spent time with the big club this year. William Nylander, Connor Brown, Nikita Soshnikov and Zach Hyman, among others, left excellent impressions with the Maple Leafs front office, coaching staff and their legions of fans.

Arguably the biggest turning point of the season was the draft lottery. The Maple Leafs finished the season as the NHL’s worst team. That gave them the best odds of winning the lottery, and in turn, having the chance to select a super talented player in Auston Matthews.

Luck Holds

It was an extremely nervous atmosphere. Hockey fans across the globe tuned their televisions into CBC for a look at which three teams would be lucky enough to draft in the top three. As luck would have it, the Columbus Blue Jackets were able to win and move up to the third position. That should give them a shot at one of the Finns, most likely Jesse Puljujarvi.

The Winnipeg Jets were also big winners on the night. They won and were able to move up to the second overall pick. Patrick Laine is a fantatsic prize, and should fit right into Winnipeg’s young core of players. The Jets also drafted another Finn 28 years ago, and he turned out to be a pretty good player. You may have heard the name Teemu Selanne once or twice through the years.

The biggest winner of the night though, was of course the Toronto Maple Leafs. Brendan Shanahan was live in the studio for the franchises best moment of the year. The Maple Leafs won the lottery and with it, the right to select Auston Matthews with the first overall pick this coming June.

It was a moment of elation for Leafs Nation. The team had many things go right for them this season, but this lottery win was easily the biggest of them all. The rebuild is in full swing, and adding a player like Matthews into the fold will only serve to help make the team more competitive in the very near future.

And for a bit of a history, the last time the Maple Leafs selected first overall, they took Wendal Clark. And that selection worked out pretty well, as Clark became a fan favourite for his gritty play and the way he wore his heart on his sleeve.

The @MapleLeafs have selected first overall one time in their history: in 1985 when they picked Wendel Clark. #NHLDraftLottery

— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) May 1, 2016

The Matthews Factor

The Maple Leafs have been looking for a franchise centre since Mats Sundin left. That type of player is coveted in today’s NHL, and teams that have one are quick to lock them up. Matthews is almost guaranteed to hear his name called by Toronto in June.

He will join a young and talented team filled with up and coming players looking to make an impact in the NHL. The Buds will finally have a respectable core that will include the likes of Morgan Rielly, William Nylander, Mitch Marner and Matthews.

The big centre is just what the doctor ordered for the Blue and White. Matthews has size, skill and smarts. He has a great shot from the perimeter, but isn’t afraid to get in tight and score the dirty goals as well. He’s also underrated defensively, and will make a solid effort in his own zone. He’s the type of player that can contribute right away, and under the tutelage of Mike Babcock, the sky is the limit.

Connor Carrick on Auston Matthews: "Coaches love talent, but they want guys who are responsible right away & he seems to fit the bill"

— Mark Masters (@markhmasters) May 1, 2016

He fits every single parameter the Maple Leafs are looking for in a future superstar. The pain of this year was well worth it, knowing that the Buds got the first overall pick. It’s a bright future, and with Matthews in the fold in the near future, the rebuild can continue to soar into the next stage.

 

  • Tags
  • 2016 NHL Draft
  • Auston Matthews
  • Brendan Shanahan
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Get theScore App Now!
Recent Posts
Jan 17th 4:25 PM
Toronto Maple Leafs

Maple Leafs Make Tough Decision in Waiving Spezza and Dell

Jan 17th 4:05 PM
Toronto Maple Leafs

Joe Thornton’s First Maple Leafs’ Goal: Just a Little Trickery Out There

Jan 17th 3:55 PM
St Louis Blues

Blues’ Winter 2021 Prospect Pyramid

Jan 17th 3:40 PM
Column

Senators News & Rumours: White, Batherson, Stützle & More

Jan 17th 3:30 PM
Boston Bruins

First-Year Islanders Shocked Big, Bad Bruins 48 Years Ago

Jan 17th 2:55 PM
Detroit Red Wings

NHL Rumors: Maple Leafs, Oilers, Canadiens, Flyers, Red Wings, More

Jan 17th 2:45 PM
Pittsburgh Penguins

Penguins Need to Make a Jack Roslovic Trade Happen

Jan 17th 2:35 PM
Column

Maple Leafs News & Rumors: Matthews, Thornton, Marner & Robertson

Jan 17th 2:25 PM
New York Islanders

Islanders Host Special Drive-Through Merchandise Giveaway at UBS Arena

Jan 17th 1:42 PM
Archives

2013 NHL Entry Draft: Where Are They Now?

Editor’s Picks
World Junior Championship All-Time Leading Scorers

World Junior Championship All-Time Leading Scorers

2021 Guide To the World Junior Championship

2021 Guide To the World Junior Championship

Masthead

Newsletters

RSS Feeds

Privacy Statement

Contact Us

About THW…

Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. Updated daily with news and features from over 130 writers worldwide. Over 2 million monthly readers now come to THW for their hockey fix.

© The Hockey Writers 2020. All rights reserved.
logo
  • HOME
  • Hockey Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • North Division
    • Calgary Flames
    • Edmonton Oilers
    • Montreal Canadiens
    • Ottawa Senators
    • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Vancouver Canucks
    • Winnipeg Jets
  • East Division
    • Boston Bruins
    • Buffalo Sabres
    • New Jersey Devils
    • New York Islanders
    • New York Rangers
    • Philadelphia Flyers
    • Pittsburgh Penguins
    • Washington Capitals
  • Central Division
    • Carolina Hurricanes
    • Chicago Blackhawks
    • Columbus Blue Jackets
    • Dallas Stars
    • Detroit Red Wings
    • Florida Panthers
    • Nashville Predators
    • Tampa Bay Lightning
  • West Division
    • Anaheim Ducks
    • Arizona Coyotes
    • Colorado Avalanche
    • Los Angeles Kings
    • Minnesota Wild
    • San Jose Sharks
    • Seattle Kraken
    • St Louis Blues
    • Vegas Golden Knights
  • World Juniors
  • CHL
    • Ontario Hockey League
    • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
    • Western Hockey League
  • THW Podcast Network
  • Store
  • FREE Newsletter
  • Search THW
  • More…
    • Join Our Team
    • The THW Archives
    • Prospects
    • The Goalie Page
    • NHL Salary Cap Information