Auston Matthews might not be walking away with individual hardware this season, but don’t let that fool you-he’s playing like a guy who absolutely could. The swagger is back.
The edge is back. And most importantly for the Toronto Maple Leafs, the production is back.
When Matthews is rolling, there’s a certain energy he brings that’s hard to describe but impossible to miss. He plays with a confidence that borders on cocky, and honestly, that’s exactly what makes him so dangerous. Whether it’s the subtle smirk after burying a goal or the icy stare he gave Avalanche fans who were letting him hear it in Colorado, Matthews is once again playing like a man who knows he’s the best player on the ice-and wants everyone else to know it too.
Now, the Leafs haven’t confirmed anything, but let’s be real: something looked off earlier in the season. You don’t go from scoring 69 goals one year to looking pedestrian the next without something nagging at you.
Whether it was an injury or just something he had to work through, it’s clear Matthews wasn’t himself through the first few months. But over the last few weeks?
Whole different story.
Since December 23rd, Matthews has flipped the switch. Nine goals in his last 10 games is the kind of heater we got used to seeing from him during that ridiculous 2021-2024 stretch, when he racked up 169 goals in 228 games.
That’s not just elite-that’s historic. And right now, he’s back in that kind of rhythm.
He’s dragging the Leafs back into the playoff mix almost single-handedly. That kind of scoring pace isn’t easy to maintain, but if he keeps this up, 50 goals is still very much on the table. That likely won’t win him the Rocket Richard this time around, but it would still cap off another phenomenal season for the franchise cornerstone.
And here’s the thing: it’s not about the numbers anymore. Matthews could score 40, 50, or even 60, but if it doesn’t lead to postseason success, it won’t mean much.
The focus now is staying healthy, staying sharp, and peaking at the right time. The Leafs have collected points in 11 of their last 12 games, which not-so-coincidentally lines up with Matthews’ resurgence.
When he’s locked in like this, the Leafs go from good to downright scary.
Toronto’s ceiling is still tied to Matthews. That’s not a knock on the rest of the roster-it’s just reality.
If he’s driving play, the Leafs can hang with anyone in the East. Add in some consistent goaltending and a little help from the supporting cast, and suddenly this team looks like a real threat again.
Sure, they missed Mitch Marner earlier in the year, but Matthews has shown he’s capable of carrying the load when needed. And right now, he’s doing just that. He’s back to being the dominant force we’ve come to expect-and for the Leafs, that changes everything.