Toronto Maple Leafs Season Preview

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Oct 2, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (34) before the start of their game against the Montreal Canadiens during a preseason hockey game at Air Canada Centre. The Maple Leafs beat the Canadiens 3-2 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports /

Is the Calder Trophy Auston Matthews’s to Lose?

Matthews will have steep competition when it comes to the Calder Trophy, but it should be his to lose.

Fellow Tip of the Tower contributor Jake Middleton wrote a piece previewing the Calder Trophy race and has players like Sebastian Aho, Jesse Puljujarvi, Patrik Laine, William Nylander, Ivan Provorov and many more in contention for the award.

This might be the toughest group when it comes to the race for the Calder and considering the way last year went, the player with the most hype is not guaranteed the award. Matthews will have to be at his best from start to finish and avoid suffering an injury like Connor McDavid did, which cost him his chance of winning the Calder.

Matthews will be put in a position to succeed in Toronto, especially if he plays on a line with Nylander and Hyman and if he gets time on the powerplay. He has a great shot, is strong on the puck and had a strong showing at the World Cup of Hockey.

He is currently penciled in on the third line but with time he could move up to the first line like he did at the Word Cup. Matthews should be able to get 55-60 points this year with the Leafs, the question is whether that will be enough or will one player outshine him with a higher points total.

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