Matthews just as advertised

Rookie phenom’s development right on schedule for Leafs coach Babcock

Mike Babcock is no Santa Claus, but if he’s checking his list to see which Toronto Maple Leafs have been naughty or nice, he doesn’t have to pause when he comes to Auston Matthews.

With the Christmas break two road games away — the Leafs will take on the Colorado Avalanche Thursday before meeting the Arizona Coyotes Friday — Matthews is developing into the kind of centre Babcock figured he would be at this point in his rookie season.

There’s a comfort level for Babcock now when the player in question was the first pick overall last June and is the favourite to be the next captain of the Leafs. Babcock is confident Matthews can have an impact no matter who lines up in the opposing sweater and on Monday night it was big Anaheim Ducks centre Ryan Getzlaf. Matthews didn’t exactly wilt, registering a personal-high eight shots on goal in the Leafs’ 3-2 loss.

The important minutes likely won’t wane for Matthews as veteran centre Tyler Bozak and centre Ben Smith did not practise Tuesday and were not likely to make the trip because of injuries.

In mid-November, Babcock said aloud the expectation was Matthews could be a dominant centre for the Leafs by Christmas.

“He has really got a lot better in his own end,” Babcock said of Matthews after practice at the MasterCard Centre.

“He knows what’s going on, he gets the puck way more than he used to because he knows how to play and I think he is pretty comfortable understanding that now. It’s just the faceoffs that are the only thing (of concern) right now.”

The constant comparison to Matthews from the outside will always be to Winnipeg Jets winger Patrik Laine, whose name was called at the draft immediately after Matthews was summoned to the stage by the Leafs.

Laine had a five-point lead over Matthews in the rookie scoring race (29-24) heading into the Jets’ game Tuesday versus Vancouver.

What Laine, who had 18 goals to Matthews’ 15, has been doing for the Jets doesn’t give the Leafs much pause for thought. Nor should it.

Matthews continues to generate scoring chances and was fifth in the NHL with 115 shots on goal. Among rookies, Laine was second with 91.

As much as Babcock is liking what he is seeing from Matthews, there’s no denying the going will be a little more tough with Bozak, especially, and Smith out. Bozak is among the top 10 faceoff men in the NHL, winning 57.8 per cent of the draws he takes. Smith was 24th at 53.1 per cent.

When asked if the pair would be out through Christmas, Babcock shrugged.

“I don’t know the answer 100 per cent,” Babcock said. “I assume they are because they did not practise. We will know more (on Wednesday). I don’t even know if they are coming on the trip. I didn’t ask. I didn’t have the courage to ask.”

The Leafs were scheduled to travel to Denver Wednesday morning, then practise that afternoon. On Tuesday, the Leafs recalled goaltender Antoine Bibeau from the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League and loaned Jhonas Enroth to the Marlies.

Babcock indicated Bibeau would start in one of the two games, but did not specify which one.

Morgan Rielly did not practise Tuesday, but Babcock said the defenceman was “fine.”

As impressive as Matthews has been, the 19-year-old isn’t getting by on talent alone. Never mind that Matthews again was one of the last Leafs to leave the ice Tuesday after practice, one-on-one sit-downs with Babcock have been instrumental in his growth.

“He does a good job with individual meetings,” Matthews said. “I feel my development has gone pretty well. I feel great on the ice. I think that’s a pretty positive thing heading into Christmas.

“I feel comfortable going up against anybody.”