Auston Matthews Is the Toronto Maple Leafs All-Time Best Player

The Leafs star center is on his way to obliterating numerous records for an original-six, storied franchise. Postseason results aside, his projected numbers leave no doubt about his status as the greatest player in team history.

Apr 24, 2024; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews (34) get set for a face-off against the Boston Bruins in game three of the first round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports / John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

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Auston Matthews Is the Toronto Maple Leafs All-Time Best Player

Matthews is an amped-up combination of Sundin and Keon. He has size, consistency, and reliability like Sundin, but is a better goal-scorer.

He also plays a strong defensive game like Keon. Matthews' takeaways regularly outnumber his giveaways and this past season he was a finalist for the Selke Trophy recognizing a forward's defensive aspects of the game.

Like Keon, Matthews is gathering an impression collection of individual hardware. He has already won four major awards thus far in his career.

The list includes the Calder Trophy, the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy (3 times as the league's top goal scorer), the Hart Memorial Trophy (for Most Valuable Player), and the Ted Lindsay Award (Most Outstanding Player as voted by NHLPA members).

During the 2023-2024 season, his chase for seventy goals captivated the NHL. While falling one short of that milestone, Matthews set a new Leafs record with sixty-nine goals. He broke his team record of sixty achieved during the 2021-2022 season.

Matthews is an annual contender for the Rocket Richard Trophy. He will be a legitimate contender for the Lady Byng and Selke awards for years to come. There are likely to be more major NHL awards in his future.

In addition to that, he is setting new franchise standards in many important categories.

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