Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews: I Shouldn't Be In Conversation To Break Alex Ovechkin's Record

1 week ago  /  NHL Trade Rumors

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews wants to give Alex Ovechkin his flowers, and walk away quietly. Matthews has been compared to Ovechkin due to his current career goal pace, and while some feel he has a chance to one day break the record, Matthews doesn't feel his name is warranted in the conversation.Matthews spoke to the media on Monday, and quieted the noise around the comparison. "That's such a long ways away, or a long way to go," Matthews said Monday. "I don't think I should even be in that conversation. This guy just broke the record. I'm so far away from that, and it shouldn't really be a focus on myself. It rightfully so should be on Ovi and what he's been able to accomplish in his career, this record being one of them."Ovechkin set the all-time goal record with his 895th career goal over the weekend, in what was a historic day for the NHL. "Just felt like everything just went right for him there," Matthews said. "It was in his spot, on the power play, the celebration, everything was amazing. Pretty cool to be able to witness that record being broken."Matthews' teammate Matthew Knies had a funny response when asked about Ovechkin setting the new NHL record, surpassing Wayne Gretzky's 31-year-old record of 894. "It's pretty crazy (to see Ovechkin break the record)," Knies said. "Obviously, I can't even count that high. That's pretty astonishing. Maybe we'll see (someone break it) down the line. (No.) 34 could do it."Matthews has 398 goals in 623 games, and at this pace, trails Ovechkin by roughly 24 goals in their career projections.Photo credit: John Smith, Imagn Images...

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