Is Auston Matthews as Good as Alex Ovechkin?

Last season was historic, as Alex Ovechkin finally tied and then passed Wayne Gretzky to become the NHL’s all-time goal-scoring leader. It was a moment that cemented his legacy as one of hockey’s greatest pure shooters — and one that may never be matched.

Or will it? Across the continent, Auston Matthews has quietly built a case of his own. With a 69-goal season already to his name and a scoring pace that rivals Ovechkin’s prime years, it’s fair to ask the question: Is Matthews every bit as good a goal scorer as Ovechkin?

Auston Matthews Hit the Ice Skating

If you go back to Auston Matthews’ first three NHL seasons, the numbers tell a story most people have forgotten. Between 2016 and 2019, Matthews missed 33 games — more than a third of a season — and still scored only 22 fewer goals than Alex Ovechkin did over that same stretch of his career. That’s Ovechkin in his prime, not one still learning the ropes.

It’s easy to forget how polished Matthews was from day one. As a rookie, he scored 40 goals, won the Calder Trophy, and finished second in the Rocket Richard race. In his sophomore year, despite missing 20 games, he still managed 34. By his third season, he had 37 goals and 73 points — all before turning 22.

Ovechkin and Matthews Come from Different Eras, But Possess the Same Dominance

For comparison, Ovechkin’s goal totals over his first three veteran seasons with the Capitals were 33, 49, and 51. That’s the output of an established superstar, surrounded by a roster built to play to his strengths. Matthews was producing nearly the same rate of offense under far tighter defensive systems, facing checking lines and top pairings every night, and doing it in a league far stingier than the one Ovechkin broke into.