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| Auston Matthews | |||
|---|---|---|---|
.jpg) Matthews with theToronto Maple Leafs in October 2022 | |||
| Born | (1997-09-17)September 17, 1997 (age 28) San Ramon, California, U.S. | ||
| Height | 6 ft 3[1] in (191 cm) | ||
| Weight | 215 lb (98 kg; 15 st 5 lb) | ||
| Position | Center | ||
| Shoots | Left | ||
| NHL team Former teams | Toronto Maple Leafs ZSC Lions | ||
| National team |  United States | ||
| NHL draft | 1st overall,2016 Toronto Maple Leafs | ||
| Playing career | 2015–present | ||
Auston Taylour Matthews (born September 17, 1997) is an American professionalice hockeycentre andcaptain for theToronto Maple Leafs of theNational Hockey League (NHL). Nicknamed "Papi" or "Tone",[2] he is widely considered as one of the best players in the world with his all-around game and lethal shot.[3] His goal-scoring rate has drawn comparisons to players such asAlexander Ovechkin.[4]
Born inSan Ramon, California, Matthews and his family moved toScottsdale, Arizona when he was an infant. After playing baseball and hockey during childhood, he developed a particular interest in hockey after watching the localPhoenix Coyotes play. A product of theUSA Hockey National Team Development Program in theUnited States Hockey League (USHL), Matthews played for theZSC Lions of the SwissNational League before being drafted into the NHL in2016, winning aSwiss Cup title that same year. Matthews was widely considered the top prospect of the draft and was selectedfirst overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Matthews became the first player in modern NHL history to score four goals in his NHL debut. He scored 40 goals in his first season in2016–17, setting the Maple Leafs rookie record and becoming just the second rookie since the2004–05 lockout to reach the milestone (along withAlexander Ovechkin); he is just the fourth teenager in league history to accomplish the feat. His performance won him theCalder Memorial Trophy as the NHL's top rookie for the season. In2020–21, Matthews won theMaurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy as the league's leading goal scorer with 41 goals in 52 games. In2021–22, Matthews set records for most goals scored in a single season by both an American-born player and a Maple Leaf, reached the 60-goal mark for the first time, and won the Rocket Richard Trophy for the second consecutive season. He was also awarded theTed Lindsay Award for most outstanding player, as voted by his peers, and theHart Memorial Trophy as the most valuable player. In addition, he has been chosen to represent Toronto as anAll-Star six times. In 2024, Matthews set the single-season goal record of the salary cap era with a total of 69 goals, surpassingAlexander Ovechkin's 65 in2007–08 and winning his third Rocket Richard in four seasons.
Internationally, Matthews has represented the United States on several occasions, including aU17 World Hockey Challenge, twoU18 World Championships, twoU20 World Championships, and oneIIHF World Championship appearance. In January 2025, Matthews was named Captain of Team USA for the2025 4 Nations Face-Off.[5]
Auston Taylour Matthews[6] was born in San Ramon, California[7] on September 17, 1997, to Brian, from California, and Ema, originally fromHermosillo, Mexico.[8] He and his family moved toScottsdale, Arizona when he was two months old,[9] and he began attendingPhoenix Coyotes games at age two.[10] His favorite players to watch wereShane Doan andDaniel Brière.[11] Initially, Matthews did not have much interest in the sport but was captivated by theZamboni machine that cleaned the ice during intermissions.[12] He first expressed a desire to play hockey shortly after his fifth birthday and began playing with the Arizona Bobcats minor hockey program.[13] On January 16, 2006, Matthews (who was eight years old at the time) attended a Coyotes game in which they lost to theWashington Capitals 6–1, where he witnessedAlexander Ovechkin's famous goal for Washington that would come to be known simply as "The Goal," where Ovechkin scored a goal while lying on his back after having been knocked down by a Coyotes' defenseman. In a 2016 interview, Matthews referred to the goal as "probably one of the best goals ever."[14]
As a child, Matthews played hockey andbaseball. According to his father, baseball was his best sport; Auston's hand-eye coordination made him an excellent hitter. However, Matthews opted to pursue a career in hockey because he disliked the slow pace of baseball. When he first started playing hockey, his parents knew almost nothing of the sport.[15] His main coach during his youth wasBoris Dorozhenko, who had previously founded the national ice hockey program of Mexico. During Dorozhenko's first few years in the U.S., he lived with Matthews’ paternal grandparents.[16][17] Matthews played in the 2010Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with theKharkiv minor ice hockey team.[18]
Matthews was drafted 57th overall by theWestern Hockey League's (WHL)Everett Silvertips in the 2012 WHL Bantam Draft but opted to play for theUSA Hockey National Team Development Program, which participates in the United States Hockey League (USHL). That season, he played for the U.S. National U17 Team (USDP), where he gained national attention from NHL scouts, even being featured on the NHL website, emphasizing his unique southwestern background.[19] In his second season with the U.S. National U18 Team (USDP), Matthews finished first in league scoring with 116 points (55 goals and 61 assists), breaking the National Team Development Program record of 102 points set byPatrick Kane in2005–06 and bestingJack Eichel by 29 points. On May 21, 2015, Matthews won the USA Hockey Bob Johnson Award for excellence in international competition.[20]
Matthews trained with the USA Hockey National Team Development Program team during the2013–14 and2014–15 seasons where he put up a total of 20 points in 20 games over the 2 seasons. He was named the most valuable player at the2015 World U18 Championships in addition to being named to theIIHF All-Star Team, and named the IIHF Best Forward after finishing as the tournament's top scorer.[21][22]
Rather than continue in American amateur hockey or play major junior hockey in theCanadian Hockey League, Matthews chose to play professionally for his last season before he was eligible for the 2016 NHL entry draft, having missed the2015 NHL entry draft cutoff date of birth by two days.[23] On August 7, 2015, he signed a one-year contract to play in the SwissNational League A (NLA) forZSC Lions.[24] Matthews was approached by Lions head coachMarc Crawford, who was awed by his skating and puck possession while scouting the 2015 World U18 Championships.[12] Crawford quickly called Matthews' agent,Pat Brisson, to discuss the proposal of signing the player to the team. Matthews and his family quickly agreed once the tournament had ended and spent the next few months applying for various paperwork.[12] After missing the first four games of the2015–16 regular season, he made his NLA debut on September 18, 2015, and scored his first goal in the game against goaltenderBenjamin Conz ofHC Fribourg-Gottéron on home ice at theHallenstadion. He would spend most of the season on a line withRobert Nilsson, finding chemistry with the veteran forward.[12]
On February 3, 2016, Matthews recorded two assists in a 4–1 win over theLausanne HC in the 2015–16Swiss Cup final. He finished the 2015–16 regular season as the second top-scorer on the Lions and tenth in the NLA.[25] His 1.28 points-per-game average was second in the league behind only longtime NHL playerPierre-Marc Bouchard.[12] He also won the NLA Rising Star Award and was second to Bouchard in voting for most valuable player.[26] Matthews' stint in the NLA ended earlier than expected when the top-seeded Lions were swept in the first round of the 2016 playoffs bySC Bern.[27]
In late June 2016, Matthews was selected first overall in the 2016 NHL entry draft by theToronto Maple Leafs, becoming the first American to be picked with the top selection since Patrick Kane in2007. Matthews had been widely expected to go first overall for several months leading up to the event, consistently topping prospect charts and major scouting reports.[28] Media speculation suggested that Matthews and the team had engaged in a minor contract dispute over the issue of performance bonuses; Matthews was asking the team for a contract similar to that ofConnor McDavid or Jack Eichel, which were both valued at $3.775 million annually, inclusive of bonuses.[29] Although Maple Leafs general managerLou Lamoriello had been very open over his disapproval of including bonuses in player contracts in the past, he was clear in stating that performance bonuses were never an issue while negotiating Matthews' contract. Lamoriello had previously been involved in a contract dispute with theNew Jersey Devils with fourth overall pickAdam Larsson over the issue of bonuses; there were no bonus clauses included in Larsson's entry-level contract.[30] On July 21, the two parties finalized a deal, with Matthews signing a three-year, entry-level contract that included the maximum allocation of performance bonuses.[31] Lamoriello said that the contract was negotiated within ten minutes of sitting down with Matthews' agent, Pat Brisson, and that the deal was done "the Toronto way."[32][33] Brisson would later confirm that the two parties did not have any issues negotiating the contract. The contract was identical in value to those McDavid and Eichel had signed one year earlier.[33] Two weeks later, Matthews was given the NLA Youngster of the Year award, reserved for the league's top rookie.[34] It was his fifth award from his stint in Switzerland.
Matthews made his NHL debut in the Maple Leafs' first game of the2016–17 season on October 12, 2016, against theOttawa Senators. He scored four goals in the game, all against Senators' goaltenderCraig Anderson. This was the first time in modern NHL history a player scored four goals in his debut; previously,Joe Malone andHarry Hyland scored five goals each in their NHL debuts on December 19, 1917 (the first game in the history of the NHL). Four others had scored three goals since then.[35] Matthews' jersey went on sale following his debut, and it quickly became the highest-selling jersey in the NHL.[36] Two months later, in theNHL Centennial Classic against theDetroit Red Wings, Matthews scored the game-winning goal in overtime, securing a 5–4 victory for the Maple Leafs.[37] He was named NHL's Rookie of the Month for December after leading all rookies with eight goals and 12 points in 12 games.[38] On January 10, 2017, Matthews was the only Leafs player selected to participate in the2017 NHL All-Star Game.[39] On March 28, 2017, Matthews scored his 35th goal of the season, surpassingWendel Clark's previous record for most goals in a season (34) by a Leafs' rookie.[40] April 3 saw Matthews score his 39th goal and 67th point, breaking the franchise record for most points in a season, as well as the record for most goals by an American-born rookie.[41] A few days later, he scored his 40th goal of the season, becoming the second rookie since the2004–05 lockout to reach the milestone and the fourth teenager in NHL history to do so.[42] He finished the year with 40 goals, second-most in the NHL.[43] Matthews' play assisted the Maple Leafs in making the playoffs for the first time in a full 82 game season since2004, as the team narrowly qualified for the playoffs by finishing as the eighth and final seed in the Eastern Conference. The team played the back-to-backPresidents' Trophy-winningWashington Capitals in the first round of the2017 playoffs. After going pointless in the first two games of the series, Matthews scored in each of the last four games as the team was eliminated in six games by the Capitals. His four consecutive games with a goal marked the first time since 1986 that a teenager scored in four straight playoff games, when Wendel Clark did it, also with Toronto.[44] Matthews was also the only NHL rookie since theWinnipeg Jets'Teemu Selänne in1992–93 to record at least one shot on goal in all 82 regular season games.[45] In recognition for his accomplishments throughout the year, Matthews was awarded theCalder Memorial Trophy as the NHL's top rookie, with 164 of 167 first-place votes. He was the first Maple Leafs' rookie to receive the trophy in 50 years sinceBrit Selby in 1966.[46]
Matthews set the unofficial NHL record for most consecutive games with a shot on goal to start a career. His 103-game streak ended in a 4–1 victory over theCalgary Flames on November 28, 2017.[47] On December 9, after colliding with teammateMorgan Rielly during a game against thePittsburgh Penguins, Matthews missed six games to recover from aconcussion.[48] On January 10, 2018, Matthews was selected as the sole Maple Leaf to participate in the2018 NHL All-Star Game.[49] On February 24, it was revealed that Matthews had suffered a shoulder injury and would be out for at least ten days.[50] However, he did not return to the Toronto lineup until March 22, where he scored a goal in the second period to help the Leafs win 5–2 over theNashville Predators.[51] Despite missing 20 games, Matthews finished the regular season with 34 goals and averaged over one point per game. The Maple Leafs qualified for theStanley Cup playoffs for the second consecutive season having finished the2017–18 season as the sixth seed in the East but were eliminated in the first round in seven games by the third seededBoston Bruins.[52] He was not particularly productive individually in his second playoff run, finishing with one goal and one assist in all seven games.[53]
The Maple Leafs opened their2018–19 season on October 3, 2018, against theMontreal Canadiens. In that game, Matthews scored the team's first goal along with the overtime-winning goal in a 3–2 win on Canadiens' goaltenderCarey Price.[54] After recording five goals and three assists through the first three games of the season, Matthews was named the NHL's First Star of the Week on October 9.[55] His points streak continued, recording four goals over the next two games for a total of 12 points in five games. He became the youngest player in NHL history to record five multi-point games to open the season, breaking a record set byWayne Gretzky in 1983.[56] He continued his goal streak the next game against the Washington Capitals. In scoring his tenth goal of the season, Matthews became only the fifth player since the 1943–44 season to record ten goals in his team's first six games of the season.[57] On October 27, after being hit byWinnipeg Jets defensemanJacob Trouba in a 3–2 Maple Leafs win, Matthews sustained a left shoulder injury and was set to be sidelined for at least four weeks.[58] After missing 14 games, Matthews returned to the lineup on November 28 against theSan Jose Sharks; he recorded two goals and one assist in Toronto's 5–3 win.[59] On December 27, Matthews was voted as captain of theAtlantic Division in the2019 National Hockey League All-Star Game. While it was his first year as a captain, it was Matthews' third All-Star selection.[60] On February 5, 2019, Matthews signed a new five-year, $58.17 million contract with Toronto worth an average annual value of $11.634 million, effective from the2019–20 season.[61] He later scored his 100th and 101st NHL goal on February 14, becoming the third-fastest Maple Leaf who began their career in Toronto to reach the milestone and the first since 1933.[62] Matthews reached the 30-goal mark for the third consecutive season on February 25, 2019, after scoring in a 5–3 win over theBuffalo Sabres. In doing so, he became the first Maple Leaf to score at least 30 goals in each of his first three seasons.[63] Matthews finished the 2018–19 season with a career-high 73 points in 68 games to finish third in team scoring behindMitch Marner (94) andJohn Tavares (88), both of whom also finished with career-highs in points while the Maple Leafs finished the season as the sixth seed in the East for second consecutive season. In the first round2019 playoffs, Matthews set a playoff career-high with five goals and six points in all seven games.[7] However, the Maple Leafs were eliminated by the third seeded Boston Bruins in seven games for the second straight season, surrendering a 3–2 series lead in the process this time around.[64]
At the start of the2019–20 season, Matthews was named an alternate captain for the Maple Leafs.[65] He scored two goals in the season opener against the Ottawa Senators on October 3, 2019, becoming the fourth player in NHL history to score in each of their first four-season openers.[66][67] As of that game, Matthews ranked third in the NHL with 116 goals in 215 games since making his debut in2016.[67] On October 7, Matthews was named the thirdNHL Star of the Week.[67] He was then named to his fourth straight All-Star appearance, but due to an "ongoing wrist condition," he would not participate in the festivities; he was replaced by Senators wingerBrady Tkachuk.[68] Matthews would finish theabbreviated regular season with career-highs in goals (47) (a 55-goal pace in a full 82 game campaign) and 43 assists for 80 points. His 47 goals placed him second in the league, one goal behind Washington Capitals winger and captainAlexander Ovechkin and Boston Bruins wingerDavid Pastrňák for the league lead.[69] The season ended in disappointment for Matthews and the Leafs, losing in the best-of-five qualifying round against theColumbus Blue Jackets. Matthews scored twice in the five-game series, including the overtime winner to cap off an improbable three-goal rally in the last five minutes of Game 4.[70]
Due to the ongoingCOVID-19 pandemic and resultant limitations on cross-border travel, the2020–21 season occurred under a vastly different arrangement than normal, with the Leafs grouped in an all-CanadianNorth Division and playing exclusively within that division for the season. The shortened2020–21 season was Matthews' most successful to date, recording 41 goals in 56 games (a 60-goal pace over a full 82 game season), and 66 total points. He became the first Maple Leaf to win theMaurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy, awarded to the player who scored the most goals in the regular season. He was also the first American winner and the second to lead the NHL in goals.[71] He was subsequently named as a finalist for theHart Memorial Trophy, awarded by theProfessional Hockey Writers' Association to the league'smost valuable player; he was the first Leaf finalist sinceDoug Gilmour in1993.[72] Matthews ultimately finished second in Hart voting behindConnor McDavid.[73] The Maple Leafs finished first in the North Division and faced theMontreal Canadiens in the first round of the2021 playoffs, where they were considered the heavy favourites to win, which would have been the team's first playoff series win since2004. The Leafs lost the first game of the series but won the next three to take a seeming stranglehold with a 3–1 series lead. However, they went on to lose the next three games, and thus the lose the series 4–3. In a personal disappointment for Matthews, he only recorded one goal and four assists in the Maple Leafs' fifth-straight early exit.[74][75]
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On August 13, 2021, Matthews underwent wrist surgery after experiencing discomfort in training, and it was announced he would miss six weeks.[76] He returned to practice the last week of September.[77] Due to the injury recovery, Matthews missed the first three games of the2021–22 season. Upon his return, he was slow to start, notching only one goal in his first six games, the worst season-opening pace of his career. However, after this, he began scoring at a prodigious pace, eventually overtakingEdmonton Oilers centerLeon Draisaitl to lead the NHL in goal-scoring by the midpoint of the season. New linemateMichael Bunting remarked "he's the best player in the league. That's just my opinion. Some people might say it's biased. But in my opinion, he's the best player by far."[78] Matthews' achievements began to raise discussions of him as a possible frontrunner for the Hart Memorial Trophy.[79] On March 14, 2022, Matthews was suspended for two games after crosscheckingBuffalo Sabres defensemanRasmus Dahlin at the2022 Heritage Classic the day before.[80] On March 31, Matthews scored an empty net goal in a 7–3 Maple Leafs victory over theWinnipeg Jets, reaching 50 goals in a season for the first time in his career. He was only the fourth Maple Leafs player to achieve this, and the first to do so sinceDave Andreychuk in the1993–94 season. He also set a franchise record for the fewest games necessary to score 50, having done so in 62 games.[81] Days later, Matthews scored his seventh career hat-trick in an April 4 game against theTampa Bay Lightning and tied the franchise record for goals in a season (54), set byRick Vaive in1981–82. This also marked the highest goal total for an NHL player in a single season since Tampa Bay Lightning center and captainSteven Stamkos' 60-goal2011–12 campaign.[82] His scoring spree continued, and in a game against theDallas Stars on April 7, he first surpassed Vaive's record with his 55th goal of the season in the second period, and then set a new NHL record for most goals in a single season by a United States-born player when he scored his 56th and game-winning goal in overtime, beating the previous record jointly held byJimmy Carson andKevin Stevens.[83] In his next game on April 9 against theMontreal Canadiens he scored his 57th and 58th goals of the season, passingFrank Mahovlich for the most even-strength goals in a season by a Maple Leaf, and becoming the first player to score 51 goals in a span of 50 games (at any point during a season) sinceMario Lemieux achieved the feat in the1995–96 season.[84] He reached 100 points in a single season for the first time in his career on April 14.[85] In a game against theDetroit Red Wings on April 26, Matthews scored his 59th and 60th goals of the season, becoming the first player in Maple Leafs history to score 60 goals in a season, and only the third in the post-2004–05 lockout NHL to score 60 or more, alongside Stamkos andAlexander Ovechkin, the latter who set the modern record with 65 in2007–08.[86] This secured his second straight Rocket Richard Trophy and second in his career altogether, joining Ovechkin andPavel Bure as the only players to win it consecutively.[87] Matthews was later named a finalist for the Hart Memorial Trophy and Ted Lindsay Award, both for the second consecutive year; Edmonton Oilers center and captainConnor McDavid was a finalist alongside Matthews for both awards, as wereNew York Rangers goaltenderIgor Shesterkin andNashville Predators defenseman and captainRoman Josi for the Hart and Ted Lindsay, respectively.[88][89] He finished the season having played 73 games and scored 60 goals, 46 assists and 106 points, all of which were career highs while the Maple Leafs as a team finished as the fourth seed in the East.[90] Advancing into the2022 playoffs, Matthews and the Maple Leafs drew the two time defending Stanley Cup champion and fifth seededTampa Bay Lightning in the first round.[91] Matthews scored twice in the Leafs' 5–0 win in game one, and also scored the game-winning goal as the Leafs came from behind to win game five, 4–3 for a 3–2 series lead. He led all skaters in the series with four goals, five assists and nine points, and 32 hits in the seven-game series.[92] Despite Matthews' career-best playoff output, the Leafs failed to make it past the first round yet again, marking the franchise's eighth consecutive playoff series loss losing game six and seven after initially having a 3–2 series lead.[93] On June 21, Matthews was named the winner of both the Hart Trophy and Ted Lindsay Award, receiving 119 Hart first-place votes to runner-up McDavid's 29.[94] He was the first Leafs player to win the Lindsay, and the third to win the Hart - the first to do so in 67 years.[95][96] He also finished in the top 10 in voting for theLady Byng Trophy for sportsmanlike conduct, and theSelke Trophy for his defensive play.[90]
Despite scoring at a slower pace in the first half of the season, on January 3, 2023, Matthews became the fastest Leafs player to register 500 career points in a game against theSt. Louis Blues.[97] He missed three weeks of play in January and February as the result of a knee injury, and would subsequently admit that he had been dealing with complications from a hand injury for most of the season.[98] Upon his return from injury, Matthews' play was observed to have noticeably improved.[99] On March 25, he recorded 15 shots on goal in a game against theCarolina Hurricanes, tyingDave Andreychuk's franchise record and becoming one of only seven players in league history to register at least that many in one game.[100] The Maple Leafs finished second in the Atlantic Division, third in the Eastern Conference and fourth in the league, setting up asecond consecutive first-round meeting with the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Leafs were commonly seen as the frontrunners at the beginning of the series being the higher seeded team; however, the historical record of past failures in advancing beyond the first round since 2004 was widely recognized.[101][102][103] Many suggested that the outcome of the series would have major ramifications for the team going forward, including the status of both general managerKyle Dubas and head coachSheldon Keefe, and also for the prospect of Matthews re-signing in Toronto, which he would become eligible to do in the summer.[104][105] Matthews scored five goals and four assists in the six-game series and participated in his first careerfight against Lightning center and captain Steven Stamkos in game three, which saw the Leafs defeat the sixth seeded Lightning four games to two and advance to the second round for the first time since2004. Reflecting on his first several years of first round playoff disappointments, he said afterward that "just to get over that hump, it's huge mentally for us, just to get that monkey off the back. And you don't want to look back now."[106] In the following series against the eighth seededFlorida Panthers, Matthews and the Leafs struggled and were eliminated comparatively quickly; Matthews notched only two assists as the Leafs fell in the series in five games ending the 2023 playoffs altogether with five goals and six assists for 11 points in all 11 games.
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On August 23, 2023, Matthews signed a four-year contract extension with an average annual salary worth $13.25 million.[107] That October, Matthews began the2023–24 season by scoring his eighth career hat trick, as the Maple Leafs defeated the Canadiens 6–5 in a shootout. Matthews scored another hat trick the following game in a 7–4 Leafs victory over theMinnesota Wild, becoming the first player to score back-to-back hat tricks at the start of the season since Ovechkin achieved the feat in the first two games of the2017–18 season in October 2017.[108] Matthews was elected one of four team captains to draft a team in the 2024 All-Star Game hosted in Toronto in February 2024. Team captains were paired alongside celebrities at that year's All-Star Game tournament; Matthews was paired up with alternate captain Rielly and Canadian pop singerJustin Bieber. In the first game, Team Matthews played against TeamHughes, where they claimed victory after a shootout. Moving on to the finals against Team McDavid, the two teams were tied after one period, but Team Matthews dominated the second half of the match as they won the tournament. Matthews was awarded the All-Star Game MVP, becoming the fifth Maple Leaf to capture the award overall, and the first in 33 years to do so.[109] Matthews continued to score at a torrid pace as the season went on. By the end of the Maple Leafs' 54th game of the season on February 21, 2024 against the Arizona Coyotes, Matthews had already climbed to 51 goals with a two-goal game, by far the fastest pace to reach the 50-goal mark by an American player. The previous record pace for an American player to score 50 was 62 games, set byKevin Stevens with the1992–93 Pittsburgh Penguins.[110] On March 30, 2024, he became the ninth player in NHL history to have multiple 60-goal seasons as the Leafs defeated the Buffalo Sabres 3–0.[111] He recorded his 100th point of the season with his 64th goal of the season against the Montreal Canadiens, marking the second 100-point season of his career, on April 6, 2024;[112] three nights later, he broke Ovechkin's salary cap-era record by scoring his 66th goal in a 5–2 win over theNew Jersey Devils, securing the distinction of being the first NHL player in 28 years to score more than 65 goals in a single season. The last time such an accomplishment was achieved was during the1995-96 NHL season byMario Lemieux, who scored 69 goals that season, as Matthews would go on to match Lemieux's accomplishment by scoring a total of 69 goals as the season drew to a close and captured his third career Rocket Richard Trophy.[113] Matthews would also record a goal and three assists for four points in five games as the Maple Leaf would get ousted once more in the opening round of the2024 playoffs in seven games to the Boston Bruins. In the 2025 playoffs, the Maple Leafs defeated the Ottawa Senators 4 games to 2 in the first round. In the second round they lost in seven games to the defendingStanley Cup champions theFlorida Panthers. In game six, Matthews scored the game winning goal in a 2-0 win to take the series to seven games.[114]
On August 14, 2024, the Maple Leafs named Matthews as captain, succeedingJohn Tavares as the 26th captain in franchise history. Matthews is the franchise’s first American-born captain.[115] On April 15, 2025, Matthews scored his 400th career goal in a game against the Buffalo Sabres, becoming the sixth-fastest player to reach the mark.[116]
 Matthews with theUnited States men's hockey team during the2016 IIHF World Championships | ||
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Representing United States | ||
| Men'sice hockey | ||
| 4 Nations Face-Off | ||
| Runner-up | 2025 Canada/United States | |
| IIHF World U20 Championship | ||
 | 2016 Finland | |
| IIHF World U18 Championship | ||
 | 2015 Switzerland | |
| 2014 Finland | |
| World U-17 Hockey Challenge | ||
| 2014 Canada | |
Matthews helped lead theUnited States men's national under-18 ice hockey team to gold at the2014 IIHF World U18 Championship. He did so again in the2015 Championship, leading the tournament in scoring and being named the Most Valuable Player (MVP), as well as earning the top forward slot on the Media All-Star Team.[22] He was also named to the roster for the2015 Deutschland Cup but was forced to pull out of the tournament due to a back injury.[117]
At the2016 IIHF World Junior Championships held inHelsinki, Matthews andMatthew Tkachuk each recorded 11 points to lead theUnited States men's national junior ice hockey team in scoring. After losing in the semifinals, the United States defeatedSweden to win the bronze medal. His seven goals in the tournament were one short ofJeremy Roenick's American record of eight, which was set in1989.[118] In recognition of his play, Matthews was named to the tournament All-Star Team. Later that year, Matthews played with theUnited States national men's senior team at the2016 IIHF World Championship, during which he led the Americans in point scoring.
Later in 2016, Matthews was announced as a member ofTeam North America for the2016 World Cup of Hockey.[119] He began the pre-tournament games playing left wing on the third line, playing alongsideRyan Nugent-Hopkins andNathan MacKinnon. After impressing, he began the tournament on the top line withJack Eichel andConnor McDavid.[120] The three found chemistry but were unable to help North America to a medal finish. Matthews finished the tournament with three points in three games played. Following the Toronto Maple Leafs' first-round elimination in the 2017 playoffs, he was advised by the team to forego participating in the2017 IIHF World Championship and to rest instead.[121][122]
In January 2025, Matthews was announced as the captain of theUnited States men's national ice hockey team in the2025 4 Nations Face-Off.[5] Missing one game due to injury,[123] he played a total of three games, including in the finals against Team Canada. Across those games, he had three assists and zero goals for a total of three points in the tournament.[124] Team USA was the runner-up in the tournament after losing to Team Canada in overtime.[125]
Matthews comes from a family of athletes, with his father having played college baseball and with an uncle, Wes Matthews, who briefly played in theNational Football League for theMiami Dolphins.[126] His father is the chief technology officer of a manufacturing company based inNew Jersey.[127] He has two sisters: Alexandria, who is three years older, and Breyana, who is five years younger.[12][128] Due to his mother's Mexican ancestry, Matthews can speak some Spanish.[129]
Off the ice, Matthews was enrolled in several online courses with theUniversity of Nebraska Omaha.[130][131] In late August 2016, he moved to Toronto and began working out with teammatesMitch Marner andMorgan Rielly.[132] Matthews' favorite athlete growing up wasKobe Bryant, while his favorite sports movie isThe Mighty Ducks.[133] He is a fan of playersJonathan Toews andAnže Kopitar due to their all around offensive and defensive game, and has had his playing style compared to them.[134] In recognition of Matthews' four-goal NHL debut, rap artistSVDVM released a song titled "Auston Matthews."[135] At the 2019 NHL Awards, Matthews was named the cover athlete forEA Sports' ice hockey video gameNHL 20[136] and laterNHL 22.
On June 19, 2020, theToronto Sun reported that Matthews had tested positive forCOVID-19 while at home inScottsdale, Arizona before the start of training camp. Due to privacy concerns, the Toronto Maple Leafs did not comment on Matthews' condition regarding COVID-19. However, on July 13, 2020, the first day of training camp, Matthews confirmed with reporters that he did contract the virus and that he was "mostlyasymptomatic."[137]
In the 2020 lockdown, Matthews lived withFrederik Andersen in his hometown ofScottsdale, Arizona. He also got his dog, aMiniature Bernedoodle named Felix, during lockdown.[138]
Bold indicates led league
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 2013–14 | U.S. National Development Team | USHL | 20 | 10 | 10 | 20 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2014–15 | U.S. National Development Team | USHL | 24 | 20 | 28 | 48 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2015–16 | ZSC Lions | NLA | 36 | 24 | 22 | 46 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 2 | ||
| 2016–17 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 82 | 40 | 29 | 69 | 14 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 0 | ||
| 2017–18 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 62 | 34 | 29 | 63 | 12 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | ||
| 2018–19 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 68 | 37 | 36 | 73 | 12 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 2 | ||
| 2019–20 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 70 | 47 | 33 | 80 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 0 | ||
| 2020–21 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 52 | 41 | 25 | 66 | 10 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 0 | ||
| 2021–22 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 73 | 60 | 46 | 106 | 18 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 0 | ||
| 2022–23 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 74 | 40 | 45 | 85 | 20 | 11 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 7 | ||
| 2023–24 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 81 | 69 | 38 | 107 | 20 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 | ||
| 2024–25 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 67 | 33 | 45 | 78 | 20 | 13 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 2 | ||
| NHL totals | 629 | 401 | 326 | 727 | 134 | 68 | 26 | 33 | 59 | 13 | ||||
| Year | Team | Event | Result | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | United States | U17 |  | 6 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 8 | |
| 2014 | United States | WJC18 | | 7 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 4 | |
| 2015 | United States | WJC18 | | 7 | 8 | 7 | 15 | 0 | |
| 2015 | United States | WJC | 5th | 5 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| 2016 | United States | WJC |  | 7 | 7 | 4 | 11 | 2 | |
| 2016 | United States | WC | 4th | 10 | 6 | 3 | 9 | 2 | |
| 2016 | Team North America | WCH | 5th | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2025 | United States | 4NF | 2nd | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | |
| Junior totals | 32 | 25 | 19 | 44 | 18 | ||||
| Senior totals | 16 | 8 | 7 | 15 | 2 | ||||
| Award | Year | Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|
| USHL | |||
| USHL Third All-Star Team | 2015 | ||
| NLA | |||
| Swiss Cup winner | 2016 | ||
| NLA Rising Star Award | 2016 | [26] | |
| NLA Media All-Star Team | 2016 | ||
| NLA Media Most Improved Player | 2016 | ||
| NLA Youngster of the Year | 2016 | [34] | |
| NHL | |||
| Rookie of the Month | December 2016 | [139] | |
| NHL All-Star Game (*captain) | 2017,2018,2019*,2020,2022*,2023,2024* | [39][140] | |
| NHL All-Star Game MVP | 2024 | [141] | |
| Calder Memorial Trophy | 2017 | [46] | |
| NHL All-Rookie Team | 2017 | [142] | |
| EA Sports NHL cover athlete | 2020,2022 | [143] | |
| Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy | 2021,2022,2024 | ||
| NHL Second All-Star Team | 2021 | ||
| Hart Memorial Trophy | 2022 | ||
| Ted Lindsay Award | 2022 | ||
| NHL First All-Star Team | 2022 | ||
| International | |||
| World U18 Championship most valuable player | 2015 | [22] | |
| World U18 Championship Media All-Star team | 2015 | [22] | |
| Bob Johnson Award | 2015 | [20] | |
| World U20 Championship All-Star team | 2016 | [144] | |
| Year | Title | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Justin Bieber: Seasons | Guest Appearance | [152] |
| 2021 | All or Nothing: Toronto Maple Leafs | Self | [153] |
Matthews, 18, has been considered the consensus top pick for months due to his size, creativity and work ethic.
The goal was Matthews' 25th of the season after 52 games. According to theElias Sports Bureau, Matthews' goal broke the franchise record for the fastest Leafs player to hit 25 goals, beating Howie Meeker's 70-year-old mark of 58 games.
| Awards and achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | NHL first overall draft pick 2016 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Toronto Maple Leafs first round draft pick 2016 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Calder Memorial Trophy 2017 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Rocket Richard Trophy 2021,2022 2024 | Succeeded by Connor McDavid Incumbent |
| Preceded by | Hart Memorial Trophy 2022 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Ted Lindsay Award 2022 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | EA Sports NHL cover athlete 2020 2022 | Succeeded by |
| Sporting positions | ||
| Preceded by | Toronto Maple Leafs captain 2024–present | Incumbent |
