McDavid, Matthews awe Hall of Famers ahead of Oilers-Maple Leafs matchup

Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews are not just burning up the NHL this season, they're dazzling a group of Hall of Famers who dominated the game during their playing days.

McDavid, the Edmonton Oilers captain who leads the NHL in points, and Matthews, the Toronto Maple Leafs center who is tops in goals, will play head to head Wednesday in the last of a three-game set at Rogers Place (8 p.m. ET; SN, TVAS, NHL.TV).
Matthews returns to the Maple Leafs lineup after having sat out the past two with a wrist injury, Toronto having shut out McDavid and Edmonton in each game of this series so far.
"A matchup between two of the best, like we have coming with Connor and Auston, brings out the very best in the players," said
Bryan Trottier
, who won four consecutive Stanley Cup championships with the New York Islanders from 1980-83, then two more with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1991 and 1992.
"There's nothing personal about it, it's just the hype and the opportunity to showcase yourself. I love that about our game. The very best players, when there's a matchup like this, seldom do they disappoint."

McDavid has scored an NHL-best 40 points in 24 games, including a League-leading 26 assists, and Matthews has scored 31 points in 20 games, including 18 goals, most in the NHL.
The game Wednesday will be the 11th time that McDavid, the No. 1 pick in the 2015 NHL Draft, and Matthews, the No. 1 selection in the 2016 NHL Draft, have faced each other; McDavid has 16 points (five goals, 11 assists) and Matthews eight points (six goals, two assists), with Toronto holding a 7-2-1 edge.
Each player is in every discussion this season regarding the Hart Trophy, awarded annually to the most valuable player in the NHL; Ted Lindsay Award, the NHLPA-voted MVP; Art Ross Trophy, for the leading point-scorer; and Rocket Richard Trophy, for most goals.

Rod Gilbert
, who scored 406 goals for the New York Rangers between 1960-78, sees two very different players when looking at McDavid and Matthews.
"Connor seems to be more entertaining because of his speed and the way he carries the puck, twisting and turning like
Guy Lafleur
, remember him?" Gilbert said about another Hall of Fame forward. "But the other kid, Auston, is bigger and plays a different style of hockey. You might not see him all game and at the end of the night he could have four goals."
Former Maple Leafs captain
Doug Gilmour
, who scored 1,414 points (450 goals, 964 assists) in 20 NHL seasons from 1983-2003, said trying to stop McDavid or Matthews would be a formidable challenge in any era.
"In our day? You'd just hook 'em," Gilmour said with a laugh. "It's a tough question on how you'd contain these guys. They're going to find openings. Connor's speed is out of this world. With Auston, he's got speed, too, but he's strong and he's got a great release. I watch him shoot the puck sometimes and just say to myself, 'Wow.'"

Gilmour said McDavid and Matthews each is turning out exactly as most imagined.
"We all kind of knew what Connor was," Gilmour said. "I watched him grow up and exceed [expectations] at every level. The speed was always there. With Auston, he's improved. As you get older, you get more experience. And you gain confidence, which is what he's shown. He's strong, he's got a great release.
"When they drafted [Matthews] they expected great things. And he's been very productive. But it takes time to keep improving and he's done that. He's made a name for himself. He came into camp in great condition. And playing with [forward] Mitch [Marner] makes for a great tandem, just like Connor and [center Leon] Draisaitl."
McDavid, a three-time winner of the fastest skater competition as part of the NHL All-Star Game festivities, goes past opponents as though they're in reverse. Mike Bossy, who scored 573 goals for the Islanders from 1977-87, has said McDavid is the fastest human being he has ever seen on skates.

Agreement came from Chicago Blackhawks legend
Bobby Hull
, whose blazing speed earned him the nickname "The Golden Jet."
"I've never seen anyone with wheels like Connor," said Hull, a 610-goal scorer in the NHL from 1960-72 and a final post-WHA season in 1979-80. "He can really dangle and he comes to play every night."
Los Angeles Kings president
Luc Robitaille
, who scored 1,394 points (668 goals, 726 assists) in 19 NHL seasons from 1986-2006, says he'd be hard pressed to choose a favorite between the two.
"If you have to pick one, it might be McDavid but I'm not sure," Robitaille said. "They're so close. It's not a good vote because they're so close. And give Matthews credit. He's always been a great player but this year he's showing an entire other level. [He scores goals] but he makes plays, too. You can't underestimate his playmaking. He's pretty amazing."

Phil Esposito
, one of the purest goal-scorers in NHL history, says that as a Tampa Bay Lightning broadcaster, he realized Matthews' potential from the first time he saw him. And Esposito, who in 1970-71 scored a then-NHL single-season record 76 goals, knows a thing or two about putting the puck in the net.
"When [Matthews] first came in, I said on the air, on our broadcast when he was playing against the Lightning his first year, 'This guy is going to be the best goal-scorer in the NHL,' and I believe it," said Esposito, who scored 1,590 points (717 goals, 873 assists) in 18 NHL seasons.
"He's just a natural phenom, he really is, and I love him. I love the way he plays. He's just superb."

Trottier is effusive in his praise of each player.
"Connor is not just the fastest human on skates," said Trottier, who scored 1,425 points (524 goals, 901 assists) from 1975-94. "He brings all the skills that he has at that speed. That's what I love about him.
"Connor's dynamic is pure speed. To be able to excel at that high level of speed is beyond spectacular. He's a highlight reel every game because of it. He does something every shift to bring people out of their seats with his speed and his ability to stickhandle, shoot and put pinpoint passes into areas through people. That's above and beyond what 'normal' is in the game of hockey. He's a special, special kid."
Matthews, Trottier observes, is a commanding presence on the ice, combined with strong leadership skills.
"You see how Auston executes, his accuracy in shots, how he makes himself available for one-timers," Trottier said. "He is a really gifted, talented player in a lot of aspects. He's composed, poised and has that ability to make his teammates better. Anybody who plays with him, I'm sure they have to elevate their game. But Auston is the kind of player who makes everybody on the ice look that much better."

McDavid scored his 500th NHL point on Feb. 17 in his 369th game. That's precisely the number of games it took Penguins captain Sidney Crosby to reach the milestone. Trottier needed seven fewer to score 500 points, and he heard from family and friends when McDavid reached the threshold.
"They were telling me that Connor almost beat me," Trottier said, laughing. "I told them, 'That's fine, but I wouldn't want to get into a footrace with that kid.'
"It's so much fun for me to be talked about in the same sentence as some of these young, skilled, high-level players because they're special and they're great kids. Guys like Connor and Auston are among the most elite players in hockey. They make it exciting for today's fans and for NHL alumni to see how the game continues to shine. The very best players are just wonderful ambassadors of the game and I tip my hat to them."
NHL.com staff writers Tom Gulitti and Mike Zeisberger contributed to this report