Auston Matthews has been one of the most talked about players in the NHL this season and he will continue to be for a long time.
One of the most common discussions is about the Calder Race led by him and Patrik Laine. They have both had wildly impressive seasons to start their NHL careers, but still, arguments wage on about who is better. With Patrik Laine scoring at a higher pace (61 points in 68 games vs. Matthews’ 62 in 75), one thing Leafs/Matthews fans will point out is their difference in position.
Matthews plays centre and Laine plays the wing. Most of the time (Not always) the centre ice position is more involved defensively, and that’s also something Mike Babcock believes.
After he passed Wendel Clark for the rookie goal-scoring record, Babcock was asked about Matthews and what makes him special. Babcock brought up a decision that Matthews made at the beginning of the year that told him a lot about Matthews’ motivations in hockey:
Does that mean that Matthews deserves the Calder over Laine? Not necessarily, because as they always say, a best defence is a good offence, and no rookie has made a bigger impact on offence than Laine this season.
Still, position will no doubt play a factor in the Calder voting. Laine and Matthews will continue their parallel to Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby in their rookie year: Will it play out the same way, with the high-scoring winger winning the Calder, or will the two-way centre take it home?
