It may be July, but it's not too early to get excited for the upcoming NHL year.
Last season was one to remember, as Connor McDavid earned elite status, Brent Burns posted a monstrous offensive season, and 2016 first overall pick Auston Matthews scored an unthinkable 40 goals as a rookie.
Matthews will have plenty of pressure on his shoulders heading into his second year after playing a key role in Toronto’s run to the 2017 postseason. But if everything goes according to plan, the Arizona native will embark on some pretty incredible milestones during the 2017-2018 campaign. Here are three things to know ahead of his sophomore season.
The 40 goal club
Mitchell Layton/Getty Images
With another 40 goal campaign, Matthews can become just the fifth first overall pick in NHL history to reach the number in each of his first two seasons. Alexander Ovechkin, Eric Lindros, Mario Lemieux and Dale Hawerchuk are the only others to have accomplished the feat.
Sophomore slump? Not so fast
David E. Klutho /Sports Illustrated/Getty Images
Players are cautiously warned about the infamous ‘sophomore slump’ after completing their first year as a pro. Colorado Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon was struck with the curse in his second season when he recorded just 38 points after notching 63 the year before. The same can’t be said, though, for some of the generational talents in the league. Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid posted respectable first year stats, but took a big step forward the next year.
Crosby
Year One: 81 GP, 39 G, 63 A, 102 Pts
Year two: 79 GP, 36 G, 84 A, 120 Pts
McDavid
Year one: 45 GP. 16 G, 32 A, 48 Pts
Year two: 82 GP, 30 G, 70 A, 100 Pts
Both players were named the Hart Trophy winner in year two.
It’s hard to imagine Matthews surpassing his goal total by a significant amount, however a 15-20 point increase next season is definitely in the cards.
Playoff success
Rob Carr/Getty Images
With a second consecutive trip to the playoffs, Matthews can become the lockout era’s first 1st overall pick to reach the playoffs in each of his first two seasons. The last player to do so was Joe Thornton, however, he totaled just 48 points through his first two years as a pro whereas Matthews surpassed that number as a rookie (69).
Time will tell if the Leafs’ franchise player will replicate his success, but it wouldn't be a surprise based on what he showed last season.
