Thanks to a recent surge in his play on the ice, Toronto Maple Leafs team captain Auston Matthews is on the verge of setting franchise history for the historic Original Six club.
Matthews has been red-hot for the Maple Leafs of late, scoring a total of four goals while adding four assists in his last three games, including a hat trick against the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday evening as part of their comeback victory at Scotiabank Arena.
And thanks to his scoring touch, he’s on the verge of overtaking a beloved former team captain in franchise history.
Matthews, whom the Maple Leafs selected with the very first pick in the 2016 NHL Draft, has already scored 419 goals during his career, and only needs one more to match the total of 420 that Mats Sundin scored while a member of the club during his playing career.
“He’s awesome,” Matthews said of Sundin. “I mean, I think just getting to know him, there’s a reason why people talk so highly about him, just the kind of leader that he was and the kind of person that he was and is. And I think that’s great.
When Matthews inevitably scores his 421st goal, he’ll officially be in first place for all-time goals by a Maple Leafs player.
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Auston Matthews Is Honored To Be Mentioned With Mats Sundin In Toronto Maple Leafs History
The magnitude of what he’ll soon accomplish isn’t lost on Matthews, who said that it’s an honor for him to be mentioned in the same name as the beloved former Maple Leafs team captain and Hall of Famer.
“I mean, it’s special just to be in the same sentence as him,” said Matthews. “Obviously, guys like him and a number of others that have come before us and paved the way and worn the jersey, I think we all take pride in wearing the jersey and how special it is.”
“So, it definitely means a lot.”
Thanks to his hat-trick performance on Thursday, Matthews increased his goal total to 18 and 419 for his career.
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Former Maple Leafs Team Captain Mats Sundin Is Rooting For Auston Matthews To Break His Record
It’s a gracious gesture for Sundin to openly be rooting for the record that he set while a member of the Maple Leafs to be broken by Matthews, who now holds the role of team captain that he held for several seasons.
Sundin, who remains one of the most beloved former members of the Maple Leafs, recently said from his native Sweden that he can’t wait to congratulate Matthews on the accomplishment when it happens.
“I’ll congratulate him now,” Sundin told NHL.com recently from Sweden. “I said it before and said it again, I’m cheering for him to do it. He’s a special player and a special person.”
Matthews’ goal scoring abilities were on full display from his very first NHL game in October 2016 against the Ottawa Senators, scoring four goals with his proud parents in the stands watching.
Ultimately finishing with 40 goals in his rookie season, Matthews has since enjoyed campaigns of 47, 60, and even 69 goals, firmly establishing himself as one of the NHL’s most dangerous offensive threats.
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