Devante Smith-Pelley

I am totally going to take that as I am bang on.

Very biased, but Skinner is a dark horse. Has the skill to put up 40 goals, and now playing with Eichel, hmmmmmm. Again, VERY biased.

40 won't cut it.

Matthews will score 50+ this season if he plays at least 70+ games. I think it will be Matthews running away with it. He had a higher 5v5 scoring rate than when Ovie scored 65. Matthews is also going to be getting all the PP time with Tavares. I think Ovie will decline a tad this season but not too much and Laine will push for 50 goals as well but Matthews is the best goal scorer in the game right now.

I am going to pretend you didnt say that. Laine I agree with, but Matthews might hit 40, nevermind 50. If it does happen, I will applaud you !

Scored 40 as a rookie playing with two other rookies and facing top opposition because he was the best player in TO as a rookie. Last year he was on pace for 50+ before getting hurt. Whats the difference this year? He's a year older, in better shape and Tavares is going to be taking a lot of tough matchups away from Matthews. He has been since day 1, a better goal scorer than Laine. This can't be argued.

As much as I would love to argue against the Leafs.. I just cant do it in this situation. Dang!

That is a weird thing that exists in the hockey world. The Leafs are arguably the most popular hockey team in North America, and are at the same time the most hated. Some people seem to hate the Leafs more than they like their own team. Because of this you get a weird sentiment around guys like Matthews. Many will hold him higher than he is and then so many just want him to fail so badly they are blinded to his talent.

I do have a bias as a fan of the team and I am aware of this, but his goal scoring stats are off the charts.

If this is in order than it is very wrong. No way Matthews tickles top 10 in scoring

In goals? You're kidding right? He scores more 5v5 goals than anyone and it's not close. Now he'll have Tavares taking tougher matchups often enough and he'll be on a PP unit with Marner and Tavares. If he plays a full 82 games, he'll score 50+ possibly over 60.

Matthews had a better 5v5 goal scoring rate than when Ovi scored 65. Those are all real numbers, anyone who says he won't be in the race is either just an irrational hater or an idiot.

A few pretty deep Rocket Richard sleepers IMO:

Tarasenko
Panarin
Marchessault

Maybe Tarasenko but honestly I see a top 3 or 4 and then the rest of the good but not great. Lots of 35+ guys out there but I think only maybe 5 players could hit 50 and I doubt they all will.

I’m going to agree with you here. There may be a few 50 goal scorers on that list. If Mathews stays healthy and plays 82 he will certainly have 50. You also have to remember that most people haven’t been watching leafs preseason to see how good matthews looks and how insanse that power play looks. That goal from marner tonight... lights out. No goalie in the world stops that with a 1000 tries.

I would think laine McJesus Mathews and kucherov have a high probability of 50 this season.

Someone please bookmark this post and comeback to it at the end of the season. The only people that believe Mathews is going to score 50 are die-hard Leafs fans. He is a hell of a player, unreal actually but he is not going to win the Rocket Richard and not going to score 50 goals

Remember when everyone was saying Laine was better than Matthews and a way better goal scorer? And then Matthews scored 40 as a rookie playing with 2 other rookies and was on pace to score more than 50 last season, in only his second season, before being injured. The kid is a super elite goal scorer. He may not win the Rocket every year and he may not win it this year but he'll win it, and likely more than once. He's the best goal scorer at 5v5 and its not even close. Just look up the stats yourself if you doubt it.