Is Auston Matthews Better Than Barclay Goodrow? NHL Stats Decide

Few NHL comparisons generate more debate than Auston Matthews vs Barclay Goodrow. The numbers reveal a genuinely competitive matchup — Auston Matthews takes 4 categories while Barclay Goodrow claims 2, making this one of the closer head to head comparisons at the C position. Every statistical category matters in a matchup this tight.

Auston Matthews's Goals of 428 compared to Barclay Goodrow's 70 represents a 511.4% advantage — dramatically better than their counterpart in this critical category. Barclay Goodrow falls 72% below the career average of 250 in this category while Auston Matthews exceeds it. It is the single most decisive number in this comparison and the clearest statistical argument for Auston Matthews's edge.

The most competitive category in this matchup is Games Played, where Auston Matthews posts 691 against Barclay Goodrow's 731 — a gap of just 5.8%. Barclay Goodrow can point to this as evidence that the overall comparison is closer than the final 4-2 tally suggests. In any debate, Games Played is the statistical ammunition for the Barclay Goodrow side.

Hockey's greatest players accumulate points through both goal scoring and playmaking. The balance between goals and assists often reveals a player's style — pure scorer versus pass-first playmaker.

The verdict favors Auston Matthews — 4 categories to 2 — but Barclay Goodrow makes this far from a one-sided debate. Anyone building the case for Barclay Goodrow has real statistical ammunition particularly in Games Played where the gap narrows to just 5.8%. The numbers have spoken, but the argument will continue.