Ovechkin vs. Matthews debated by Gretzky, others
Trotz, Boudreau, Backstrom also weigh in on top goal-scorers
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Auston Matthews leads the NHL in goals this season with 58 and is attempting to become the first player to score 60 since Tampa Bay Lightning forward Steven Stamkos did it in 2011-12.
Put them on the ice together, as will be the case when Ovechkin's Washington Capitals visit Matthews' Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; TVAS, TSN4, NBCSWA, ESPN+, NHL Live), and the hockey world will get to see two of the greatest scorers of their generation, if not for many others.
"Matthews just seems really special," Gretzky said. "What he's doing is very similar to what Ovechkin did when he was younger, so I think they are a lot alike.
"They're both outstanding goal-scorers."
Ovechkin, the 36-year-old forward, scored 273 goals in his first 400 games, fifth most in that span in NHL history. Matthews, the 24-year-old center, ranks eighth on the list, scoring 255 goals in his first 400 games.
Each has the same ranking when it comes to the fewest amount of games to reach 250 goals. Ovechkin is fifth, doing it in 366 games; Matthews is eighth, accomplishing the feat in 397 games.
Ovechkin, who is four goals shy of his ninth 50-goal season, was asked about what he and Matthews share in common in their positions as two of the game's elite scorers.
"For me, it's kind of hard to say what the similarities are," Ovechkin said. "We both love an offensive game and he plays with great players as well who give him the puck and give him the open space.
"Obviously, it's always fun to watch. I'm happy for him and hopefully he's going to play the same way and keep going."
To delve further into the Ovechkin-Matthews comparison, NHL.com picked the brain of Ovechkin, his longtime linemate Nicklas Backstrom, two of his former coaches and Gretzky.
No player scored more goals in his first 400 NHL games than Gretzky, who had 366 in that span. He finished with 894 in 1,487 games, the most in NHL history.
Backstrom is the Capitals' all-time leader in assists with 745. The 34-year-old spent much of his career as the center on Ovechkin's line.
New York Islanders coach Barry Trotz was Capitals coach in 2018 when Washington won the Stanley Cup. Vancouver Canucks coach Bruce Boudreau coached Washington from 2007-11.
What do Ovechkin and Matthews have in common? How are they different? The panel will debate.
How impressed are you by what Matthews is accomplishing, for this season and in his career? He's already set the Maple Leafs' single-season goals record in 2021-22, eclipsing Rick Vaive's 54 in 1991-92.
Gretzky: "There's no limit to his ceiling, right? Because he's so good and he's so big and strong and fast and he's got a great release. He's a really special player."
Ovechkin: "I think it's great. Obviously, he's one of the top players out there. Every time when you see someone score 50 or [60] goals, that's pretty cool stuff and I hope he's going to continue to do what he's doing. It's fun to watch."
Backstrom: "First of all, he's a very talented player and just the way he plays the game right now, he's full of confidence. It seems like he's growing every year, too. He's getting better and better every year. So if he does get over 60 goals, that's pretty amazing. Not a lot of people have done that."
Trotz: "When I saw Auston when he first started taking off, I said he reminds me of a young Mario Lemieux. He's got such long range and he moves the puck across his body."
To that point: The consensus seems to be that they each share the quality of having dangerous shots, two of the best in the sport. In what ways are their shots similar and, for that matter, different?
Ovechkin: "Obviously, his wrist shot is very heavy, very dangerous. But he's a center, he plays a different way. He plays, you can say, more with the puck. He's goes back and forth. His stickhandling is pretty cool to watch. Him, (Connor) McDavid, (Leon) Draisaitl, all those guys, what they can do with the stick and the puck is pretty cool."
Boudreau: "First of all, they're both big and strong, and they can both shoot the puck better than anybody. And they like to shoot the puck better than anybody. The biggest comparison that I can see is that when 'Ovi' was in his early 20s, he led the League in shot attempts by tons and tons and Matthews is up there now. They've both got great hands, they've both got great instincts but that's the closest comparison I've seen is the shot. The release on both of them is incredible, so it works for them."
Backstrom: "I think they have that wrist shot. Both have pretty similar [ones]. They both have a great wrist shot. I think the difference is, 'O's' one-timer is a little bit different than his."
Trotz: "Obviously, the biggest thing with them is the release. Ovi is a little different. He's got that half-slapper, that wrist shot. It's hard to read the puck off of Ovi's stick, it really is. He's got such strong wrists that he can send it here or there. He really doesn't see a lot of traffic in front of him. He's got that vision that sees everything but that traffic, so he's always aiming for those spots.
"With Auston, from seeing him on TV and live, he moves the puck across his body and changes the angle. He's able to contort from there. That's probably the biggest difference I see."
Gretzky: "What they share in terms of their shots: quick release, velocity and accuracy."
What do you take from some of the comparisons between the two players, some of which are labelling Matthews as 'The Next Ovechkin?'
Trotz: "Ovi is definitely the greatest goal-scorer of probably any generation. Maybe Auston is the next one. If he's scoring at that rate, it won't take him long. But Ovi, to me, is as pure a shooter as you're ever going to see."
Backstrom: "You look at the guys that (Matthews) is playing with: Mitch Marner, (John) Tavares, (WIlliam) Nylander. You've got all these guys that can set him up pretty good, too. So he's a great, great player, but obviously it's a team sport, so he probably gives credit to a lot of his teammates, too."
Ovechkin: "I think the last (60-goal scorer) was Stamkos. So it would be nice (for Matthews)."
While Matthews is aiming for 60, Ovechkin is attempting to tie Gretzky and New York Islanders forward and Hockey Hall of Famer Mike Bossy for the most 50-goal seasons with nine. What would it mean to reach that milestone?
Ovechkin: "It's going to be a pretty cool number, pretty cool company again. I'm just trying to do my best and if I hit 50 it will be nice. If not, we always have next season."
Backstrom: "I think it would mean a lot, actually. It would be his ninth. He wants to get there and he's on his way there. So it will mean a lot, I think, for him personally."
He's vying to become the oldest player to reach that mark. Former Boston Bruins forward Johnny Bucyk holds the record. He was 35 when he did it in 1971-72.
Backstrom: "If he does it, it's incredible. More sticks for his museum, right?"
-- NHL.com staff writer Tom Gulitti and independent correspondents Kevin Woodley and Kurt Dusterberg contributed to this report
