Toronto Maple Leafs: What to Expect from Auston Matthews This Season

 Expect Lots of Goals from the Toronto Maple Leafs Best Player

This one is an easy place to start. Really it goes without saying. Forget Matthews being the best pure goalscorer on the roster and possibly in the history of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Auston Matthews is one of the best goalscorers to have played hockey.

Yes, he is that good. He has shown that he can beat any goalie from every angle imaginable. Matthews has consistently scored and the only time he has struggled it has been a source of that wrist.

Hopefully, the wrist surgery has fixed whatever was ailing him before and it will propel him to new heights. You can expect him to score, and score a lot. Since 2017-18 the 23-year-old has scored at above a point-per-game basis and there is no reason to see those numbers drop.

If not for a shortened season last year there is no doubt Matthews would have surpassed the 50 goal marker with ease (he was at 41 in 52 games, with a bad wrist).

This year though, with even more pressure for the Leafs to win, what Toronto needs is for Matthews to be more selfish with the puck at crucial moments. He is an elite goalscorer but a number of times last year he would dish the puck to Zach Hyman, Mitch Marner or someone else. Fine options, but not in the calibre of No.34 – he needs to keep that puck on his stick.

You rarely see Patrick Kane dish the puck around with the clock winding down, and if Toronto wants to win this year, don’t expect Matthews to be passing then either.

Verdict: Very Likely