Auston Matthews Brutally Disrespected by the NHL Network
Photo credit: Imagn Images
Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews was recently left off a major NHL Network list, and it is clear that the league disrespected the Leafs as a whole.
Auston Matthews is easily one of the best goal-scorers of the last few years, and some believe there is a world in which he surpasses Alex Ovechkin for the most all-time.
Of course, he will need to bounce back from his performance last season, where he was only able to manage 33 goals due to a nagging injury.
Whatever the case may be, one can make the argument that Matthews is one of the best players of the 21st century, and that he belongs with the greats.
As it turns out, the NHL Network disagrees. At least, that is how it feels thanks to the new Quarter-Century team that was released this past week.
Auston Matthews gets snubbed by the NHL
If you look at the forwards, you will immediately notice that Auston Matthews is missing from the list. In fact, the Maple Leafs as a whole were excluded.
Of course, they didn't have any defensemen or goalies who could fit the bill. That said, surely Auston Matthews should have deserved some praise here.
Unfortunately, it seems as though the list was reserved for those who have won a Stanley Cup. The only two players here who haven't are Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.
At the end of the day, the NHL Network is well within their rights to keep Auston Matthews off the list, even if it feels like an oversight.
Having said that, fans of the Toronto Maple Leafs are making their feelings be known, and it does feel like the fanbase sees it as disrespect.
In the past, Leafs fans have felt like the NHL as a whole has left them behind, and these kinds of things only deepen that insecurity.
Ultimately, the Maple Leafs captain has an opportunity to prove the haters wrong this season, and we're sure he will be motivated to have a great year.
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