Edmonton Oilers announcer Jack Michaels recently shared his candid thoughts on Leon Draisaitl surpassing Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews in this season’s top five NHL player rankings.
The debate over who’s better between Draisaitl and Matthews has been ongoing among fans and analysts. Many already rank Draisaitl not just ahead of Matthews, but among the league’s top three players overall.
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Michaels believes Draisaitl deserves serious consideration for both the Hart Trophy, awarded to the league’s MVP, and the Selke Trophy, given to the best defensive forward. While Michaels doesn’t see Draisaitl as the clear Hart favorite, he considers him one of the top three contenders. He also sees a strong case for Draisaitl being in the Selke conversation due to his all-around impact.
“I don’t think he’s the frontrunner for the Hart, but he’s definitely one of the top three candidates. And what’s even more interesting to me is the possibility of him competing for both the Hart and Selke. Even if he doesn’t win either, he should absolutely be in serious consideration,” Michaels said during a segment on Sportsnet.
Michaels made it clear that he doesn’t entertain the argument for Matthews being ahead of Draisaitl, firmly placing the Oilers star as the third-best player in the world right now. He views Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar as a strong fourth, but feels Draisaitl stands comfortably above other contenders for the top spots.
“I have Cale Makar as a clear number four. But beyond that, Draisaitl has moved past several other so-called contenders for that spot. To be honest, I’m not interested in hearing the ‘Auston Matthews’ argument. Leon Draisaitl has firmly established himself as, at worst, the third-best player in the world on any given day,” Michaels added.
Draisaitl’s Statistical Edge Over Matthews
Draisaitl’s performance this season has been dominant, leading the NHL with 44 goals and ranking second overall with 90 points. Matthews, on the other hand, has struggled to match his usual offensive output and currently sits outside the top ten in both goals and points.
According to ESPN, Matthews has registered 52 points this season, with 22 goals and 30 assists, placing him 41st in player skating stats.
With Draisaitl statistically far ahead, it’s no surprise he’s a strong contender for the Art Ross Trophy as the league’s leading scorer this season.