Auston Matthews’ Hart Win Confirms It: He’s Modern-Era’s Greatest Leaf

The Toronto Maple Leafs did not perform well in this year’s Stanley Cup playoffs – or the playoffs for many a season prior to that – but they have an excellent consolation prize in Auston Matthews. The superstar center capped off his 2021-22 season by winning the Hart Memorial Trophy as the NHL’s most valuable player as voted by media members; the 24-year-old reached the rare 60-goal plateau and had a personal best in points (106 in 73 games) in his sixth NHL year, and he’s now won the league’s Maurice ‘Rocket’ Richard trophy as the game’s most prolific scorer for the past two seasons.

Matthews’ work this year earned him a First Team NHL All-Star nod. Sometimes that honor gets a bit lost in the big picture, as many fans and observers think of the All-Star Game and unfairly dismiss it. No, this is an acknowledgment that you’re the very best of the very best. That’s who Matthews is right now. Sure, Connor McDavid made a great case for himself in the post-season that he’s the best player on the planet at the moment, but you can make note of that while also giving credit to Matthews for being a singular talent in his own right.

He may not be Patrice Bergeron on the defensive side, but Matthews did raise his all-around game this season. He and fellow star forward Mitch Marner had a regular linemate in winger Michael Bunting, and they made him into a 23-goal-scorer, 3-point-generator, and Calder Trophy finalist as one of the top three rookies in the sport. Morgan Rielly, the veteran defensemen Matthews often shares the ice with, has posted his top two single-season offensive numbers (including a career-best 58 assists last season) in two of the past four years. Matthews’ vision and speedy play-making make his teammates better. And he’s doing it in the neverending pressure-cooker that is life as a Leaf.

You can’t take that for granted in this hockey mecca. Knowing that they’ve got Matthews under contract for the next two seasons is a relief of sorts for Toronto GM Kyle Dubas, but Matthew is no 100 percent lock to stay a Leaf for his entire career. Some have speculated Matthews’ home state of Arizona could pursue Matthews, but, presuming the Blues do win a few playoff rounds in the next couple of seasons, it’s more likely he stays in Blue and White. NHLers are loyal to a fault, and Leafs’ brass, including team president Brendan Shanahan, have gone above and beyond to make Matthews feel as comfortable as possible. It is within the realm of possibility that Matthews leaves Toronto, but the odds should remain high that he remains a Leaf.

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When Mathews was drafted first-overall by Toronto in 2016, Shanahan was careful not to overhype Matthews. Rather, he stressed that, like all young players, Matthews would have an acclimation period and could not single-handedly deliver a Cup. That has proven to be accurate no individual player can decide the outcomes of games. You need to augment your core of top talent with a mixture of veteran know-how and youthful vigor. Dubas has done that for Matthews. He has been unfailingly in Matthews’ corner, and he has been smart enough to know Matthews doesn’t need to be Leafs’ captain to be effective.

Long-suffering Leafs fans know what they have in Matthews, and how rare a commodity he really is. He can hurt teams right out of the gate in games, and pile up the offense in a hurry. He’s learning how to use his large frame to his advantage and turn solid defense into high-grade scoring opportunities. And he’s still not close to his peak.

When the Leafs take the ice again next fall, Matthews’ role will be more important than ever. He’s shown already that he can not simply meet, but surpass expectations. When you win your first Hart before age 25, you’re in rarified air, and you’re certainly the guy who is the best Maple Leaf of the modern age.