It was just another stepping stone for Maple Leafs first overall pick Auston Matthews when he was selected for the 2017 All-Star game in Los Angeles.
All-Star weekend will be held on the last weekend of January (28-29) at the Staples Center and Matthews will be representing the blue and white. The Leafs 19 year old stud has 21 goals and 14 assists after just 39 games and is improving each time he steps on the ice for another shift.
It goes without saying that Matthews is happy to represent Toronto as he was quoted: ““It’s a huge honour to be named as one of the best players in the league. To be able to represent the Maple Leafs, there is definitely a special feeling.…
Expectations for Matthews were obviously high when he was selected first overall in the 2016 Draft. Auston has done wonders for not only the Maple Leafs and their rebuild, but has brought back hope and visions of Championship seasons for the patient fans who have stuck it out over many grueling years of disappointment.
The Leafs number one pick has been great with and without the puck which makes his so much more valuable. He does a great job at being positioned in the right spot for a breakout pass or touch pass in the slot. Matthews has had a number of phenomenal plays, including the spinning pass to Uncle Leo just a few games ago, that was a thing of beauty.
On pace for 40 goals Matthews is the youngest Maple Leaf player to attend an All-Star game since Wendel Clark. I’m sure at 19 years of age he will find a good home for the $212,500 bonus for attending All-Star weekend. Atlantic Division All-Stars:
F Nikita Kucherov (TBL) F Brad Marchand (BOS) F Auston Matthews (TOR) F Frans Nielsen (DET) F Kyle Okposo (BUF) F Vincent Trocheck (FLA) D Victor Hedman (TBL) D Erik Karlsson (OTT) D Shea Weber (MTL) G Carey Price (MTL) G Tuukka Rask (BOS)
As happy as I am for Matthews being a part of All-Star weekend, I’m much more interested in how the Leafs fair in the games between now and the break. It would be ideal if Toronto was sitting handsomely in that second spot in the Atlantic above both Boston and Ottawa.
What may help that is the addition of a back-up goaltender who the team and coaching staff feel confident enough in playing to secure a win or two. As quick as the Leafs scooped up Curtis McElhinney off waivers, they dished off Jhonas Enroth to the Anaheim Ducks for a 2018 seventh round pick.
Really? I can’t believe Toronto got anything for Enroth, but a pick, even a seventh rounder I will take. The Leafs and Ducks must have each other on speed dial with the number of trades they make.
McElhinney is 33 years old and has eight years of experience in the NHL. He’s no Andersen but he will at least give the Leafs number one tender some rest once in a while. At this pace the Leafs are going to burn out Freddie, and if they do make the playoffs they will want him to be well rested and on his game. Leafs management is doing what they can do continue to ripen their goaltending prospects in the AHL, playing them in a number of games as opposed to a handful up with the big club.
It’s brilliant in reality as the Leafs improve their back-up goalie as well as let their goaltending prospects play as many games as possible. It’s very unlikely the Leafs will keep McElhinney after this season is done and he’s likely just a stop gap for a back-up as both Enroth and Ramo didn’t pan out. It’s going to be a trend that bigger goalies are simply more sought after than smaller goalies due to many factors. I think it’s quite simple really, a bigger goalie covers more of the net just by natural size and any equipment modifications incoming could affect a smaller goalie more so than a bigger one. I’d say it’s a given that the Leafs will be looking for a decent back-up (with size) if they don’t see one of Sparks or Bibeau fitting in next year’s plans.
The long wait until Friday’s game is somewhat painful, this Leafs team is enjoying their break as of now but will hopefully be well-rested and hungry for a big win come Friday.
Thanks for reading, enjoy the rest of your day!