The opening day contest between the Montreal Canadiens and the Toronto Maple Leafs will renew not only one of the most historic rivalries in North American sports but also pit the 2016 first and second-overall draft picks against each other: Patrik Laine and Auston Matthews.
The recent trade acquisition of Patrik Laine for the Montreal Canadiens immediately became the biggest news in the city this Summer—apart from a pipe-bursting near the Jacques Cartier bridge.
The first game of the NHL 2024-25 season will pit the Canadiens against their long-time rivals, the Toronto Maple Leafs, but will additionally feature Laine battling against the man who was selected before him at the 2016 draft: Auston Matthews.
Matthews’ Summer
The dog days have proven eventful for Matthews, specifically when it comes to his rank among the Leafs organization. On Aug 14, the Arizona-raised attacker was named the 26th captain in Toronto’s history, replacing John Tavares who relinquished the role.
Last season, Matthews had his best statistical campaign in his career, amassing a remarkable 69 goals and 107 points in 81 games. He came home with his third Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy and finished fourth in Hart Trophy voting behind Nathan MacKinnon, Nikita Kucherov and Connor McDavid.
In his rookie campaign, Matthews beat out Laine to capture the Calder Memorial Trophy, awarded to the player deemed to have the most proficient inaugural season. He had a total of 40 goals and 69 points during that season.
Laine’s Summer
Last year was turbulent for Laine to say the least. He played in 18 games and recorded six goals and nine points in total. In January, he entered the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program.
In a post on Instagram, he stated, “After careful consideration and discussions with my support network and the team, I have recognized the importance of prioritizing my mental health and well-being. Hockey has been my passion and my life, but I have come to realize that in order to perform at my best, I need to take this time to focus on myself.”
In July, Laine exited the program and in August launched the mental health initiative From Us To You with his fiancée Jordan Leigh.
Cut to two days ago, and the hockey world recoiled in shock after it was announced that the Finnish forward was traded to Montreal along with a second-round pick in 2026 for defenseman Jordan Harris.
In his media availability, he was asked about the likelihood of returning to his goal-scoring profile, and whether he thinks he’ll be a 30-goal scorer. Laine’s response was admirable, saying:
“I don’t want to come back as a 30-goal scorer. I want to come back as a 40, 50-goal scorer. I want to come in and do whatever it takes to contribute to the team to help them win, whether it's me scoring 50 or scoring 20 goals, as long as the team wins.”
The First Foray
The two players have nearly 10 years of NHL experience, so the two have faced off before. The initial matchup proved to be more favorable for one over the other.
Flashback to Oct 19, 2016, when the Winnipeg Jets took on Toronto. After the Leafs garnered a 4-0 lead, the tables turned thanks to some legendary Laine heroics. The rookie scored a hat trick, sparking the first comeback in Jets franchise history when down four goals. The Finn finished the game with his three goals while the American Matthews finished with an assist and a minus-one rating.
The two are forever linked to the 2016 draft, and the season opener on Oct 9 will see Matthews in his new captain role and Laine with his new team. It’s an opportunity to witness how the two will perform going forward, much to the excitement of hockey fans.
