As one of the more well-known active NHL players, it’s hard to find someone who doesn’t know the name Auston Matthews. Since his debut in 2016, Matthews has established himself as a critical player in the modern-era Toronto Maple Leafs, gaining attention for his talent, work ethic, and charisma both on and off the ice.
Auston Matthews Salary Cap & Stats
Hockey Dreams from the Desert
Though Matthews was born in San Ramon, California, on September 17, 1997, he and his family moved to Scottsdale, Arizona, when he was only a few months old. While he grew up in the desert—an area not well known for hockey—Matthews didn’t let that get in the way of pursuing his love for the sport.
His introduction to hockey came at a young age when he attended his first Phoenix Coyotes game when he was just two. Though he initially didn’t express much interest in the sport, it didn’t take long for Mattews to develop a desire to play. Shortly after his fifth birthday, Auston Matthews began playing hockey, and his love for the sport grew.
However, hockey wasn’t the only sport that Matthews enjoyed. Growing up, he played baseball as well, and it’s been said by his father that his incredible hand-eye coordination made him a great hitter. Though he had a talent for the game, Matthews didn’t like the slow pace and preferred the fast-paced, intense game of hockey. Though he played both sports, Matthews eventually began to favor hockey and would continue to miss more and more baseball games for hockey practices until the age of 13, when he made his final decision and chose hockey.
His determination and dedication to the sport became more evident as time went on, and eventually, Matthews joined elite travel hockey as a bantam and gained the attention of the USA Hockey development program. He then joined the U.S. National Team Development Program (USNTDP), where he solidified himself as one of the top prospects in the hockey industry. During his second year at the USNTDP, Matthews broke Patrick Kane’s record for points in a single season where he finished with 55 goals and 117 points in 60 games.
His performance with the USNTDP landed him a spot with the National League A – the top Swiss pro league – in 2015-16. In just 36 games, Matthews accumulated 24 goals and 46 points. He also played for the United States during the IIHF Junior World Champions, where he helped lead the team to a bronze medal.
A Historic NHL Debut
When the Toronto Maple Leafs secured the first overall pick in the 2016 entry draft, all focus was on whether the Leafs would secure Matthews. The franchise was desperate for a strong player to help lead their rebuild, and many believed that Auston Matthews was the perfect pick, including the Leafs, who didn’t hesitate to name him as their number one pick. Fans were eager to see if this rookie could live up to the high expectations placed upon him; however, he was quick to prove himself.
Matthews wasted no time showing why he was selected first overall in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. On October 16, 2016, he made his NHL debut against the Ottawa Senators and did not disappoint. During the game, Matthews scored his first goal eight minutes and 21 seconds into the opening period. He then scored three more, becoming the first number one draft pick to score a hat trick in his first game and the first player in the modern era to score four goals during their NHL debut. By the end of the game, Matthews had single-handedly accounted for all of the Leaf’s goals in a 5-4 overtime loss and was immediately positioned among the NHL elite.
By the end of his rookie season, Matthews stood above the rest in goals with a total of 40, points with a total of 69, and shots on goal with a total of 279. He was also awarded the Calder Cup trophy, given to the NHL’s rookie of the year, and helped land the Toronto Maple Leafs a spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, which had only happened once since 2004.
A Legacy in the Making
Throughout his career, Matthews has proven that the Leafs made the right decision when they chose him as their number one draft pick. During the 2019-20 NHL season, he set a personal record with 47 goals in 70 games, leaving him just one behind leaders David Pasternak (Boston Bruins) and Alexander Ovechkin (Washington Capitals). Two years later, Matthews scored another record high of 60 goals, making him the first NHL player born in the United States to score that many in a single season.
During his time with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Matthews has gone on to prove himself time and time again as a natural leader, breaking records, encouraging teammates, and winning many awards. The 2021 – 22 NHL season was a big one for Matthews as he was the recipient of three major awards: the Ted Lindsay Award, which is awarded to the NHL’s most outstanding player; the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy, which is awarded to the leading goal scorer in the NHL, and the Hart Memorial Trophy, which is awarded to the most valuable player to his team within the NHL.
Though he’s won many awards and received a lot of recognition, his biggest achievement occurred on August 14, 2024, when he was named the 26th captain of the Maple Leafs. This makes Matthews the first United States-born player in franchise history and the second non-Canadian player behind Mats Sundin, a Swedish player who was captain from 1997 – 2008.
For Matthews, the journey to becoming one of the top players in the league is well underway, but his biggest goal remains to bring the ultimate team success to Toronto: the Stanley Cup. As he continues to evolve and grow as a player, there’s no doubt that Auston Matthews will remain the foundation on which the Maple Leafs build their future.
