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Mats Sundin pays Auston Matthews an incredible compliment

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Josh Tupper
April 2, 2022  (6:28 PM)
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Growing up watching the Toronto Maple Leafs, I was blessed with the opportunity to watch Mats Sundin captain the Leafs. Sundin was a big bodied center that dictated the flow of play for the majority of his Maple Leafs' career. So when Sundin departed for the Vancouver Canucks it left a gaping void in the Maple Leafs' lineup.

Big bodied, game changing centers don't grow on trees and that's why it meant so much that the Maple Leafs were lucky enough to win the draft lottery, and the rights to select Auston Matthews. Since joining the Maple Leafs, all Matthews has done is excel in every facet of the game. He's developed into a generational two-way talent and he's already lined the Maple Leafs' Record Books with his name.

Maple Leafs' Legend, Mats Sundin, had an opportunity to speak about Matthews abilities when he sat down with Mike Zeisberger of NHL.com, after the 24-year-old, Matthews joined the Maple Leafs' 50 Goal Club:

He's got a great chance to eclipse a lot of, if not most, of the most prominent offensive franchise records in Toronto Maple Leafs history when all is said and done. He's got to stay healthy, of course, and stick around with the Leafs for a long time. If that happens, I mean, just look at the pace he's on. He's doing it already.

The records Sundin speaks of include two of his own. Sundin currently holds franchise records for most goals scored (420) and points (987). Sundin accomplished this over a 981 game career with the Maple Leafs.

When asked about his own records, Sundin went on to add the following:

He could break both of those. He's already on his way. Just look what he's been doing.

Sundin's high praise for Matthews was also issued by other Maple Leafs' greats like Doug Gilmour, Darryl Sittler and even Rick Vaive.

Matthews enters play tonight trailing Vaive by 4 goals for the franchise record for goals in a single season (54). But with 15 games remaining the real question becomes, does Matthews have what it takes to become the first player to score 60 goals since Steven Stamkos?

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Mats Sundin pays Auston Matthews an incredible compliment

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