NHL analyst Mike Rupp named Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews the ninth-ranked centerman in the NHL.
Matthews is arguably the best goal scorer in the NHL and one of the top centermen. However, Rupp has him ranked ninth, behind Jack Hughes and Brayden Point, which was a surprise.
Speaking on the NHL Network, Rupp says he would rather have a healthy Hughes than Matthews.
Are you taking Jack Hughes or Auston Matthews? 🤔
“My top six is the same as what the Network’s was,” Rupp said. ‘This is where it gets interesting for me. I have got Brayden Point, Jack Hughes and then Auston Matthews and then Mark Scheifele. I know a lot of people are not going to agree with that but you make your own list. I think Auston needs to have his moment. It doesn’t mean Jack Hughes has had his moment. If Jack Hughes, a healthy Jack Hughes, I would take him over Auston Matthews.”
It’s a bold take to pick Hughes over Matthews, but to also rank the Maple Leafs’ captain as the ninth-best center is a huge surprise. Matthews would be in the running to be in the top-five, if not top-three, according to most analysts, but Rupp feels differently.
Hughes is entering the fourth year of an eight-year, $64 million deal with the Devils. He recorded 27 goals and 43 assists for 70 points in 62 games last season.
Matthews, meanwhile, is entering the second year of his four-year, $53 million deal. He recorded 33 goals and 48 assists for 78 points in 67 games.
Maple Leafs’ Matthews Back to Being Healthy
Matthews dealt with injuries last season, which hindered his play.
However, heading into the offseason, Matthews was confident he would be healthy for the start of the season.
“Definitely a tough year physically,” Matthews said on May 20. “But I’m confident with some time off and just going through my own process and treatment and everything. I’m really confident I’ll be back 100 percent next season, and it’s nothing for me to worry about.”
Matthews was injured all season, but he was able to play through it, but he wouldn’t reveal what the injury was.
“I don’t need to get into the specifics of stuff, but I got injured in training camp, wasn’t feeling great through the first month of the season,” Matthews said. “There were some good stretches where I felt good. There were some stretches where I didn’t feel very good.”
Matthews has a career-high of 69 goals, showing how dominant he can be when healthy.
Matthews Ranked 7th Best Center by NHL Network
Although Rupp had Matthews ranked ninth, NHL Network ranked him ninth.
NHL Network has Matthews just ahead of Point and just behind Jack Eichel. The TV Network’s top-10 centers in the NHL were as follows:
- Connor McDavid
- Nathan MacKinnon
- Leon Draisaitl
- Aleksandar Barkov
- Sidney Crosby
- Jack Eichel
- Auston Matthews
- Brayden Point
- Mark Schiefele
- Nick Suzuki
However, if Matthews can remain healthy this season and get 50-60 goals, he will rise up the center rankings for next year.
But Matthews will also need to perform in the playoffs for the Maple Leafs to pass some other centers on this list.
Analyst Takes $64M Center Over Maple Leafs’ Matthews in Surprise List