He isn't just a goal scorer anymore. Honestly, if you still think Auston Matthews is just a guy who puts pucks in nets, you’re missing the biggest shift in Toronto hockey since the salary cap was invented.
The mustache is still there. The release is still lightning. But something changed when the Toronto Maple Leafs handed him the "C" back in August 2024.
We’re sitting in January 2026, and the conversation has moved. It’s no longer about whether he can hit 70 goals—a milestone he missed by a heartbreaking single goal in 2024. Now, it’s about legacy. It’s about the fact that on January 3, 2026, he finally did it. He scored career goal 421 against the New York Islanders, officially passing Mats Sundin to become the greatest goal scorer in the history of this cursed, beautiful franchise.
He did it in 664 games. Sundin took 981.
That’s not just "good." It’s statistical anomaly territory.
The Captaincy Shift and the 2025-26 Reality
When John Tavares stepped aside to let Matthews take over the captaincy, people expected a massive offensive explosion. Instead, we've seen a more calculated version of No. 34. Under head coach Craig Berube, Matthews has been asked to play a "heavier" game.
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It’s working, sort of.
As of mid-January 2026, Matthews has 24 goals and 39 points through 41 games. If you’re doing the math, that’s a 48-goal pace. For anyone else, that’s a career year. For Matthews? It feels like a "slump" to some fans. But look at the NHL EDGE data. He’s leading the league in shots on goal with 154. He is in the 93rd percentile for total skating distance. Basically, he’s working harder than he ever has, even if the puck isn't falling at a 69-goal clip.
The team is currently 24-16-8. They are sitting in a playoff spot in the Atlantic, but it hasn't been easy.
- Injuries: He’s already missed time this season with a lower-body injury.
- Roster Changes: The power play has looked different without Mitch Marner, who is now out in Vegas.
- The Weight: Being the captain in Toronto is like wearing a lead jersey. Every post-game comment is dissected by a dozen different podcasts.
Why the "One Dimensional" Label is Nonsense
Most people outside of Toronto still think he’s a soft, perimeter sniper. They’re wrong.
During the New Year’s Day comeback against the Winnipeg Jets, Matthews didn't just score a hat trick to drag the Leafs back from a 4-1 deficit. He was blocking shots in the final minute. He was winning faceoffs at a 58.6% clip—a career high.
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Berube recently said that Matthews is "ripping the puck quicker" and playing with more "oomph." You see it in the dirty areas. He isn't just hovering at the circles anymore; he’s camped out in front of the crease, taking cross-checks to the kidneys to create space for William Nylander, who currently leads the team in points.
The Contract and the Pressure
Let’s talk money. Matthews is currently the highest-paid player in the league by AAV (Average Annual Value). He’s playing on that 4-year, $53 million extension with a cap hit of $13.25 million.
When you make that much, "great" isn't enough. You have to be "perfect."
The fans know the clock is ticking. The 2025 playoffs were another gut-punch—a seven-game exit to Florida that ended with a 6-1 blowout at Scotiabank Arena. Matthews had a decent postseason, but decent doesn't break a 59-year Cup drought.
What Most People Miss About 2026
There is a massive distraction looming: The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina.
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Matthews is the face of Team USA. He’s 28 years old. He’s at the absolute crest of his physical prime. There is a very real fear among some Leafs fans that the Olympic run will drain him before the NHL playoffs even start. Others think it’s the spark he needs. Winning gold might be the only thing that teaches him how to finally get Toronto over the hump.
Actionable Insights for the Rest of the Season
If you’re watching the Leafs or managing a fantasy team, keep these three things in mind for the second half of the 2025-26 season:
- Watch the Shot Volume: Matthews is still shooting more than almost anyone in history. Even if his shooting percentage is "low" at 14.7%, the law of averages suggests a massive hot streak is coming in February.
- Health is Everything: That lower-body injury in November/December was worrisome. He’s admitted his foot was "pretty swollen" and it took time to fit back into the skate. If he misses more time, the Leafs' depth is too thin to survive.
- The Record is Done, the Goal is New: Now that he’s passed Sundin for the franchise record, the personal pressure is off. Expect him to defer more to Nylander and Matthew Knies as he focuses on defensive positioning.
The reality of the Toronto Maple Leafs is that regular-season records don't buy you much grace anymore. Matthews is the greatest player to ever wear the blue and white. Period. But in this city, you aren't truly the "greatest" until you're holding a silver trophy over your head on Bay Street.
Next Steps for Fans: Keep an eye on the February 15th matchup against the Bruins. It’ll be the ultimate litmus test for whether Matthews' "heavy" style can actually handle playoff-caliber physical play before the trade deadline.