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Craig Button Shocks Fans When Discussing Auston Matthews Or Leon Draisaitl As NHL's Best Player

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Daniel Lucente
January 25, 2025  (9:34)
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Toronto Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews and Edmonton Oilers' Leon Draisaitl battle for the puck
Photo credit: Edit from Oil On Whyte

Insider Craig Button was recently discussing who the NHL's best player was, and he provided an absolutely shocking take regarding Leon Draisaitl and Auston Matthews.

In a 2019 episode of a TSN 1050 feature, NHL analyst Craig Button courted controversy when declaring Edmonton Oilers player Leon Draisaitl to be the best player in the league.

Craig Button completely ruled out Auston Matthews from that elite group

Button ruled out Toronto Maple Leafs player Auston Matthews from being considered for mention in the same group.

In conversation with former NHL player Jamie McLennan and fellow former player Jeff O'Neal, Button firmly argued Matthews hadn't yet earned himself a finished product player like Draisaitl.

"I think the talk about Auston Matthews as being one of the best players in the league needs to stop. Because he's not as good as Draisaitl. He's not even close to Draisaitl right now.

I know he's a scorer but in terms of a complete player, not even in that category. He should never be in the conversation until he shows that he's going to impact the game in the same way," Button said.


While McLennan concurs with Draisaitl's top five, he added that the Oilers superstar sometimes seemed to tire out down the stretch in a game.

Nevertheless, Button firmly took a stand and argued Matthews wasn't in Draisaitl's league and couldn't be included amongst the NHL's best until and unless he could make a similar impact in a game.

The two players have gone on to make their spots as NHL superstars ever since, with five 100-point years for Draisaitl, and two, including two 60-goal years, for Matthews, both through scoring and through creating plays for a fellow player.

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Craig Button Shocks Fans When Discussing Auston Matthews Or Leon Draisaitl As NHL's Best Player

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