Is Auston Matthews the All-Time Best to Play for the Maple Leafs?

A convincing argument could be made that power-forward Auston Matthews is the best player to ever play for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Maple Leafs Captain Auston Matthews Re-Writing Leafs Record Books

Since being drafted in 2016, 1st overall by Toronto, this can’t miss superstar, who at 28 years of age, is still in his prime, has carved out quite the solid resume of accomplishments which includes playing in seven All-Star Games (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023 and 2024), winning MVP at the 2024 All-Star Game, 2017 Calder Trophy winner, three time Rocket Richard Trophy winner in 2021, 2022 and 2024 and in 2022 winning the Hart and Ted Lindsay Trophy.

Matthews, who in October 2016 began his career by becoming the first NHLer in the modern era to score four goals in his debut, which came in a 5-4 OT loss against the Ottawa Senators, is already in his 10th NHL season, where he currently sits fifth on the Leafs all-time points list with 760, only eighth behind the late Hall of Fame defenceman Borje Salming.  The all-time Leafs points leader is former Captain and Hockey Hall of Famer Mats Sundin who wearing the blue and white produced 987 points. If Matthews isn’t traded or leaves when his contract is up, he should rack up more than a thousand by the time his career is over.

Realistically, it’s only a matter of time before Matthews ends up as the franchise leader for such categories as Power Play goals where with 108, he finds himself in third spot, only 16 behind Sundin at number one. Meanwhile Matthews is the Leafs all-time leader for plus/minus at +157  and is the leader at even strength goals with 311. Matthews has 66 game winning goals which has him ranked second 13 behind, you guessed it Sundin who has 79. Other franchise categories has Matthews occupying fourth spot with 2,667 shots on goal and tied for third with Charlie Conacher for hattricks with 14.

This future Hall of Famer also broke another former captain in Rick Vaive’s record for most goals in a season when in 2021-22 Matthews scored 60 goals which still stands today as the franchise record.

On Saturday, January 3rd during a 4-3 overtime loss at UBC Arena against the New York Islanders, Matthews made some more Maple Leafs history when he scored two goals which gave him 421 in his career and moved Matthews past Sundin as the Leafs all-time leading goal scorer.

“It means a lot, it’s a very historical franchise,” Matthews said. “There’s a lot of pride… I am very humbled. I couldn’t do it without the great group of guys around me.”

Matthews Putting Up Hall of Fame Statistics

When Mats Sundin in 2007  moved past Darryl Sittler to become the Leafs all-time leading scorer with 420 goals, this future Hall of Famer was at 36 years of age past his prime and nearing the end of his career. 

Amazingly Matthews not only accomplished the feat of surpassing Sundin while still in his 20’s but he also joined an exclusive group in becoming only the sixth player in history to score that many goals in 664 games. The five players who have accomplished this feat ahead of him are all Hall of Famers who have won Stanley Cups in Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Brett Hull, Mike Bossy and Jari Kurri.

Many believe that currently the best player in line to take a run at Alex Ovechkin’s all time goal scoring record is Matthews. The trouble is who knows how many more goals the ‘Great 8’ will score before hanging up the skates.

“That’s such a long way away or such a long way to go,” Matthews said last spring when the topic was brought up. And, you know, I don’t even think I should be in that conversation.”

Sundin Sends Congratulatory Message For Breaking Record

Matthews tied and broke Sundin’s franchise goal scoring record in the second period on Saturday night against the Islanders with the second goal which moved Matthews past Sundin coming on a one timer.

Remarkably, Matthews accomplished the feat in 317 fewer games and afterwards received congratulations on the video from Sundin who was back in Sweden.

Records are obviously made to be broken but right now in  Matthews, hockey fans should consider themselves lucky to be able to watch this special talent who once his career is over will be in the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Main Image: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images