Maple Leafs’ Auston Matthews earns best fashion sense in new NHLPA player poll

It’s a drip or drown world, and Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews always seems to understand the assignment.

Matthews was named as the NHL’s most fashionable player in the latest NHLPA player poll, which recorded responses from 633 respondents. Toronto’s star centre earned a 15.75 percent share of the vote, in a tie with Boston Bruins forward David Pastrnak. And it appears the Maple Leafs are considered a well-dressed team overall, as William Nylander finished third with a 12.9 percent share of the vote.

On the ice, the Maple Leafs are considered less glamorous by their peers. Matthews and Nylander did not receive a vote for the NHL’s best overall forward, where Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid earned the superlative with a whopping 73.89 percent share of the vote. Colorado Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon finished second with a 9.62 percent share of the vote. McDavid also earned best skater.

Matthews fared better in the most complete player category, where he finished in a tie for fifth-place with Los Angeles Kings forward Anze Kopitar. The 27-year-old earned a 3.17 percent share of the vote. Sidney Crosby narrowly won the category with a 33.81 percent share of the vote, while Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov finished second with 30.95 percent of the vote. Crosby was also named the smartest overall player, with Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov finishing second.

It’s always fascinating to see where you rank among your peers, but the Maple Leafs were largely shut out from the most prestigious categories. Matthews and Nylander are teaching the rest of the league that fashion sense can’t be taught or bought, but you’d imagine they’d want greater recognition for their on-ice contributions.

Here are the rest of the results from the player poll. We’d love to hear what you think about where the Maple Leafs’ stars ought to rank in several categories, and perhaps this year’s playoffs could influence a change for next season.