{"id":460904,"date":"2026-02-17T15:13:35","date_gmt":"2026-02-17T15:13:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/460904\/"},"modified":"2026-02-17T15:13:35","modified_gmt":"2026-02-17T15:13:35","slug":"analyst-pinpoints-what-makes-auston-matthews-different-from-connor-mcdavid","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/460904\/","title":{"rendered":"Analyst Pinpoints What Makes Auston Matthews Different from Connor McDavid"},"content":{"rendered":"

Auston Matthews<\/a> has taken a lot of \u2014 somewhat undeserved<\/a> \u2014 flak over the last two years. Any superstar will face criticism when they aren\u2019t playing or producing up to lofty expectations, but that\u2019s especially true when you\u2019re the captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs and were once widely viewed as one of the best players in the world.<\/p>\n

Matthews is still a superstar center, but there\u2019s no denying it has felt like the gap between him and the true upper echelon \u2014 players like Connor McDavid<\/a> \u2014 has widened over time<\/a>. Both the numbers and the eye test suggest that. However, according to Kevin Bieksa<\/a>, the lack of eye-popping statistics and flashy highlights may not necessarily be a negative.<\/p>\n

The former NHLer-turned-analyst discussed the differences between Matthews\u2019 and McDavid\u2019s games, pointing out how Matthews remains responsible defensively and takes care of all three zones, which might make it seem like he\u2019s not creating as much offense.<\/p>\n

Bieksa said<\/a>:<\/p>\n

\u201cThe thing about Matthews is he doesn\u2019t cheat the game. He plays it the right way. So I think some people maybe compare him to Connor, and they\u2019re like Connor\u2019s getting the puck, he\u2019s skating it through the neutral zone, he\u2019s getting all of these points. But Matthews doesn\u2019t cheat the game \u2014 he goes down low, he stops, he defends hard, he picks guys\u2019 pockets. So for that reason, he doesn\u2019t create maybe as much offense and wow you, but he wins his shifts.\u201d<\/p>\n

A staggering 96 points (34 goals, 62 assists) in 58 games for McDavid compared to just 48 points (26 goals, 22 assists) in 51 games for Matthews would imply there\u2019s no contest. But Bieksa is right in that their styles are polar opposites, so the numbers don\u2019t always tell the full story.<\/p>\n

\"McDavidMcDavid Matthews<\/p>\n

There\u2019s no question McDavid is the better player \u2014 and frankly, it\u2019s not particularly close between him and anyone else in hockey right now<\/a>. That said, the criticism of Matthews can sometimes go too far, which makes it refreshing to hear an experienced voice offer his perspective on the situation.<\/p>\n

Toronto and Edmonton won\u2019t meet again in 2025-26 unless both make the Stanley Cup Final \u2014 which we know is unlikely. However, fans could get one more Matthews-versus-McDavid showdown this year if Team USA and Team Canada take care of business and square off in the gold medal game at the Winter Olympics.<\/p>\n

Next: Oilers Seen as Possible Landing Spot for Maple Leafs Defenseman<\/a><\/p>\n

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