Not long ago, mentioning Auston Matthews in the same breath as the NHL's elite was justified. For years, the Toronto Maple Leafs' sniper operated in a tier of his own. He was a generational goal-scoring machine who collected Rocket Richard trophies and won a Hart Trophy as league MVP.
Now, Matthews is coming off two consecutive subpar seasons marked by reduced production and injuries. Recent NHL player rankings have delivered a sobering reality check. Matthews hasn't just slipped; he's fallen from grace, tumbling down to No. 8 on the NHL Network's top centers list and losing his grip on the league's inner circle of elite superstars.
Coming off a career-low 27-goal campaign, the Maple Leafs' captain is no longer feared the way he once was. The reality is the Leafs' first-line center is at a critical career crossroads, and his response will dictate his and the team's future.
What Player Rankings Mean For Matthews and the Leafs
When Matthews was putting up 60-goal seasons, he was considered a top-five NHL player, and many put him just behind Connor McDavid in hockey's hierarchy. Now, some think ranking Matthews as the eighth-best center is actually too high. Toronto sports personality Sid Seixeiro recently broke down EA Sports NHL 27 center rankings and thought Matthews was correctly placed outside the top ten. Matthews was ranked 11th.
"He is not better, in my opinion, than any of these centers. Not in terms of goal scoring, not in terms of point production," said Sexeiro of the ten players ahead of the Leafs' center. The podcast host used the last two years as evidence of Matthews' demise.
TSN OverDrive host Bryan Hayes commented on Matthews' ranking on a recent episode. Pondering whether the placing was too high, too low, or just right, Hayes said it was "just right." He added, however, that it came with a caveat. That being that the 2026-27 season is a "make or break" year for Matthews to remain "anywhere close to a list like this." Hayes also said the former Rocket Richard winner has not been the eighth-best center based on his play over the last two seasons.
Matthews has run out of leeway. He has had back-to-back years of injury questions and poor numbers. New general manager John Chayka has reshaped the Maple Leafs' roster. He completely revamped the bottom-six forwards, lessening defensive duties for Matthews. Jim Hiller has replaced Craig Berube as coach. Some thought Berube shackled Matthews by not using him properly. Plus, top pick Gavin McKenna's playmaking should help return the Leafs' captain to his previous form. Matthews has no excuses.
If Matthews struggles again in 2026-27, three years of inferior play marks a trend. He has one more year until he turns 30 and just two years left on his current deal with the Leafs. Individual player rankings aside, Matthews' play this year will greatly affect his future. His next contract and whether he remains in Toronto will be heavily influenced by what happens this season. Will he have a renaissance as he reaches thirty and help return the only NHL team he has known to contender status? Or is he starting to decline and both he and the Leafs decide to move on? Matthews is at a career crossroads, making his 11th NHL season a must-see event.
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