Joe Thornton In Shock Over Auston Matthews' Game

The Toronto Maple Leafs signed Joe Thornton before this season to give the veteran a chance to see if he still had 'it', playing alongside Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews. While a rib injury may have put a slight pause on his season, Thornton is back in the lineup this week and looking as fresh as ever. 

The Leafs play the Ottawa Senators three times this week in what's turning out to be the 'Auston Matthews show', and Thornton sang some high praise for the young centreman after the Leafs 2-1 victory on Wednesday.

He's on a different level. He just competes so hard. I think he should be up for ... the Selke, Hart, Rocket. He does so many things and he just plays the game the right way. I really enjoy watching him play and playing alongside him. He's the complete package.

Last season Matthews finished one goal off the Rocket and was on pace for more than 50 goals. This season he's leading the league with 14 goals, he's fourth in the league in takeaways and has bolstered his two-way game. The one trophy that seems furthest away is the Hart. 

The only way Matthews can win the Hart is if he keeps up the scoring pace and the Maple Leafs stay a top the league's standings. That will give him the best chance at the MVP, but it's certainly going to come down to a battle involving Connor McDavid for any major award this season.

Winning all three trophies would be unheard of in the same season. The last player to win a Selke and the Hart in the same season was Sergei Fedorov.  If Matthews keeps this pace up, the long-time Red-Wing may have some company in the history books and Joe Thornton's going to love his front row seat for the whole show.

Photo credit: Gerry Angus/Icon Sportswire