Auston Matthews recently became the Toronto Maple Leafs’ all-time leading goal scorer, leaving behind Mats Sundin’s 420-goal record, and now has 423 goals. The milestone has drawn attention from fans and former teammates, including Mitch Marner, who now plays for the Vegas Golden Knights.
Even after leaving Toronto, Marner has remained close to Matthews, and his thoughts on the achievement show respect and friendship between the two.
Mitch Marner Praises Auston Matthews After Becoming Maple Leafs’ All-Time Leading Goal Scorer
In a recent conversation with reporter Anna Dua, Marner spoke about Matthews reaching this historic milestone.
“It was phenomenal. It was really cool. I knew it was gonna happen in a matter of time. I think everyone saw me congratulate him online but I talked to him after the game and just said ‘congrats, what a great milestone’. He’s got his name with all the legends now and above them all, it’s a really cool thing and I think it was really cool for all the legends to recognize it and give him his love too,” Marner said.
His words pointed to the continued friendship between the two players and Marner’s respect for Matthews.
Matthews also spoke about the milestone, emphasizing how meaningful it is to be part of Toronto’s history.
“It means a lot. It’s a very historical franchise, and I take a lot of pride in putting on the jersey every day. To be in the same sentence as some of the greats that have come before us means a lot. It’s extremely special, and I’m very humbled, and I couldn’t do it without a great group of guys around me,” he said, via NHL.
Matthews has also maintained his friendship with Marner despite the trade. In a September 2025 interview, he commented on Marner leaving Toronto:
“Yeah. I mean, those are always tough conversations to have. Obviously, at the end of the day, you’re teammates, you’re also friends, and he’ll be a friend of all of ours for life. So those are always tough conversations to have, but at the end of the day, you know, he made his decision, and you know, we wish him nothing but the best moving forward, and we’re moving on.”
So, despite moving forward with the flow of the new season, both players have reciprocated in terms of respect.
Since joining the Vegas Golden Knights in July 2025, Marner has played an important role in the lineup. He scored a power-play goal in a 3-2 overtime win over the Kings this week and has totaled two goals and five assists over his last five games.
Through 45 games this season, Marner has 11 goals, 47 points, 87 shots on net, and a rating of +8. He consistently produces, and his puck control and smart positioning have already established him in Vegas’ top-six forward group.
READ MORE: Mitch Marner Downplays Emotions of Facing Off Against Toronto Maple Leafs
Both Matthews and Marner, now 28, continue to perform at high levels for their respective teams. Matthews leads Toronto with 37 points in 22 games, and the team has seen a surge recently.
Although they now play for different teams, their friendship remains strong.
