The Toronto Maple Leafs desperately needed a spark during their Wednesday night matchup. The franchise has struggled through one of its worst seasons in years, sitting at the bottom of the Eastern Conference.
However, captain Auston Matthews provided a bright moment during an otherwise difficult campaign. Matthews recorded an assist on Matthew Knies’ goal at 2:49 of the second period.
The helper pushed him into sole possession of fifth place on the Maple Leafs’ all-time points list. More significantly, he passed a familiar name to reach the milestone.
Auston Matthews Surpasses Former Teammate Mitch Marner In Maple Leafs History
Matthews’ assist gave him 742 career points as a Maple Leaf, moving him one point ahead of Mitch Marner’s 741. The timing adds an interesting wrinkle to the accomplishment, given Marner’s summer departure to the Vegas Golden Knights.
The two players spent nine seasons together in Toronto, forming one of the most dynamic duos in franchise history. They combined for countless highlight-reel plays and helped the Maple Leafs reach the playoffs consistently.
However, their partnership ended when Marner signed an eight-year, $96 million contract with the Knights. Matthews now stands alone ahead of his former linemate in the franchise record books. The captain has also accomplished the feat in fewer games.
Matthews has played 648 games compared to Marner’s 657, making his climb up the leaderboard even more noteworthy. The 28-year-old center trails only legendary names above him on the list.
Börje Salming sits fourth with 768 points, followed by Dave Keon (858), Darryl Sittler (916), and Mats Sundin (987) at the top. Matthews could realistically challenge for second place if he remains in Toronto long-term.
Matthews’ goal-scoring prowess separates him from most players on the list. His 410 goals rank second in franchise history behind only Sundin’s 420. At his current pace, Matthews will likely claim the all-time goals record within the next two seasons.
What Does This Milestone Mean for Matthews’ Legacy?
The milestone provides a silver lining during an otherwise frustrating season for Matthews. The captain has missed significant time due to injury, and the team has struggled mightily in his absence.
Toronto currently sits last in the Eastern Conference, with defensive and goaltending issues plaguing them nightly. However, individual accomplishments, such as passing Marner on the all-time list, remind fans of Matthews’ extraordinary talent.
The first overall pick in 2016 has delivered on every expectation since arriving in Toronto. His production has been remarkably consistent throughout his career. Whether Matthews eventually catches Sundin atop the franchise leaderboard depends on how long he remains a Maple Leaf.
For now, he can celebrate surpassing his former teammate and cementing his place among Toronto’s all-time greats.