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A Look into the Toronto Maple Leafs Early Success

By Jourdan Jones

DALLAS, TX - OCTOBER 09: (L-R) Morgan Rielly #44, Auston Matthews #34, Nazem Kadri #43, John Tavares #91 and Mitchell Marner #16 of the Toronto Maple Leafs celebrate the second goal of the game by Matthews against the Dallas Stars in the second period at American Airlines Center on October 9, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
DALLAS, TX - OCTOBER 09: (L-R) Morgan Rielly #44, Auston Matthews #34, Nazem Kadri #43, John Tavares #91 and Mitchell Marner #16 of the Toronto Maple Leafs celebrate the second goal of the game by Matthews against the Dallas Stars in the second period at American Airlines Center on October 9, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /
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WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 21: Auston Matthews #34 of the Toronto Maple Leafs moves the puck in front of Evgeny Kuznetsov #92 of the Washington Capitals in Game Five of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Verizon Center on April 21, 2017 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 21: Auston Matthews #34 of the Toronto Maple Leafs moves the puck in front of Evgeny Kuznetsov #92 of the Washington Capitals in Game Five of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Verizon Center on April 21, 2017 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

Auston Matthews

Since the day Matthews entered the league in 2016/2017, scoring four goals in his NHL debut, we knew he would become a prolific goal scorer.

The superstar centre has shown much promise after posting record numbers through the first seven games this season. Matthews is blowing away fans with his explosiveness and offensive flair thus far with 10 goals and six assists, while playing alongside Kasperi Kapanen, who has been a major surprise.

Matthews has impressively surpassed his start to the previous two campaigns after scoring 10 goals in just six games. It took him 22 games to score 10 goals his rookie year in 2016/2017 and only 14 games the year after in 2017/18. Both impressive starts to a season, Matthews has once again impressed fans scoring at an insane pace.

Over the summer Matthews took it upon himself to improve an area of his game that has already proved to be one of his many major strengths, his shot.

Matthews has a shooting percentage of 44.5%, scoring 10 goals on 22 shots, which is top in the NHL (for players with over 10 shots on goal). The improved shot has contributed to his early season success and is showing his work over the summer has paid off.

With a dramatic start to the season, Matthews may see some regression, but it’s not out of the question to say he will score 50 goals by seasons end.

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