Even when Auston Matthews is held off the scoresheet, he impresses his peers across the National Hockey League.

Brayden Schenn couldn’t help but take notice last week when Matthews did his puck-on-a-string routine against the Ottawa Senators, deking through four Sens in the offensive zone before turning and a putting a shot toward the Ottawa net.

Matthews didn’t record a point that night as the Leafs lost 4-3.

No matter, figured the St. Louis Blues’ Schenn, who happens to be a solid centre in his own right.

“It’s insane,” Schenn said. “You see the other night, he had four guys around him and he’s still stickhandling around guys.

“He’s an elite player in this league, still young, still learning, and he is only getting better.”

Said Blues captain Alex Pietrangelo of Matthews: “He is strong on the puck. The amount of skill he has and the way he skates with his shot, you have to make sure you know whether he is going to take the body on you or try to protect the puck. He has a great all-around game.”