Auston Matthews doesn’t need much more to move up the all-time leaderboard if you zoom in on the right window. At first glance, the graphic sounds almost absurd: just 168 goals to pass Wayne Gretzky. But the fine print matters here - this is about goals scored in a player’s first 700 NHL games, not a career total.
That distinction still leaves Matthews in some elite air. He has 436 goals through 700 games, which puts him sixth on the list. He sits three goals ahead of Alex Ovechkin and 70 ahead of Steven Stamkos, a pair of names that underline just how loaded this company is.
And the group ahead of him is exactly the kind that makes the number stand out. Wayne Gretzky.
Mario Lemieux. Mike Bossy.
Brett Hull. Jari Kurri.
These are not merely prolific scorers. They’re the kind of finishers who could make a goaltender feel helpless even after doing everything right.
The Gretzky number is the one that really pops: 589 goals in his first 700 games. Matthews’ 436 doesn’t come close to that mark, but that doesn’t take anything away from what he’s done. It just shows how high the ceiling is at the top of this list.
It’s also worth remembering that these kinds of comparisons always have limits. The sport has changed too much across eras for raw totals alone to tell the whole story. Scoring rates, equipment, goaltending, and the style of play all shape the numbers.
Even so, Matthews landing sixth all time in this category is no small thing. He’s in the middle of a group of all-time finishers, and he’s doing it in an era where goals aren’t handed out easily. There’s even a little something extra in seeing Ovechkin right behind him at this checkpoint, separated by only two goals, even though Ovechkin is the NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer.
The larger point is simple: this is another reminder of how special Matthews has been as a goal scorer. It’s easy to focus on what comes next and overlook what’s already been done. Maple Leafs fans don’t need to do that here.
In Other News...
Easton Cowans Breakout Just Made A Leafs Decision Much Harder
Easton Cowan has spent the early part of the season doing more than just flashing promise, and that has quietly changed the conversation around him. Through 11 games, he has piled up 10 points while giving the Leafs real value away from the puck, too, with a growing role on the penalty kill and strong underlying numbers at 5-on-5.
The most encouraging part for Toronto is how complete the impact has been. Cowan has already shown he can help in transition, create offense and disrupt plays defensively, which is why his rise now feels bigger than a hot start. He is still a restricted free agent in 2028-29, but if this level holds, the next Leafs decision on him is only going to get more expensive. [Read more 🡒]
Oilers Get An Early Boost That Could Change Everything Up Front
The trade chatter around the league is starting to pick up, and that always puts Toronto on alert for what might shake loose up front. With names like Connor Hellebuyck, Dylan Larkin and several Pittsburgh veterans already in the rumor mill, the market has a way of forcing contenders and buyers to adjust quickly, especially when a club like Vancouver is looking more like a seller than a team ready to stand pat.
One of the more interesting situations to watch is Jake DeBrusk, who may need to decide whether to signal any openness to movement before his no-movement protection gets tighter. At the same time, Edmonton is getting Ryan Nugent-Hopkins back from injury, a return that should matter both in five-on-five usage and on the power play, and those kinds of lineup boosts can ripple through the trade picture faster than anyone expects. [Read more 🡒]
Maple Leafs Just Got Another Intriguing Option For More Size Up Front
Torontos search for more heft up front has put another name on the board, and this one fits the profile the Maple Leafs have been chasing. Dmitri Voronkov has drawn interest from Toronto as the Blue Jackets consider their options, giving the Leafs a potential swing at a winger whose game is built around size, physicality and enough offensive touch to help a middle-six role.
The 26-year-old has been productive over the past three seasons, averaging 19 goals and 19 assists, and he is still under team control beyond this year as a restricted free agent. For the Leafs, the appeal is obvious: a big body who can change the look of a forward group. The question is whether Columbus decides the right move is to keep shopping, and whether Toronto is willing to push hard enough to make the fit work. [Read more 🡒]