Leafs Legend Mats Sundin Issues Statement on Auston Matthews' Pursuit of His Goals Record in Toronto
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Photo credit: Per Haljestam - USA Today Sports
With Auston Matthews inching his way closer to Mats Sundin's Leafs goal scoring record, the former captain would love to be in attendance when the feat is reached.
There are very few players in Toronto Maple Leafs history that hold as much reverence as Mats Sundin. The former captain and member of the Hockey Hall of Fame played 13 years in Toronto and scored a franchise record 420 goals and 987 points in 981 contests.
The current captain and 3-time Rocket Richard winner, Auston Matthews, is inching his way closer to Sundin's record as he needs 52 goals to tie and 53 goals to take sole possession of the franchise record, currently owned by Sundin.
Sundin was asked what the record means to him and what it's like watching the current rendition of the Maple Leafs with Matthews leading the charge as one of the league's best goal scorers:
"Well, it's nothing I really think about, obviously. But I mean, my career, I thought my 13 years with the Leafs were the most fun of my professional career. Beating Darryl Sittler's record, and obviously, Auston is going to beat my record, whether it's this year or next year, and that's the way it's supposed to be," Sundin said.
"But I guess it shows also that, you look at the team Toronto has right now, it's arguably the most talented ever, I think. So the goal record is just a small thing. It's about getting this team to try to win a championship too, right?"
"But I guess it shows also that, you look at the team Toronto has right now, it's arguably the most talented ever, I think. So the goal record is just a small thing. It's about getting this team to try to win a championship too, right?"
When asked if he believes it can be achieved this year, Sundin was more than certain that can happen with the type of talent surrounding Matthews. He also doubled down and believes that he can possibly catch Wayne Gretzky and Alexander Ovechkin for most all-time in league history:
"I think anything is possible. I think you look at the forwards that the Leafs have, right? It's (Mitch) Marner and (William) Nylander and (John) Tavares, and there's so much talent up front," Sundin said on Wednesday.
"So he's got all the possibilities to break a lot of records. And not only him, I think, there's other guys on the team that are still young and have long careers."
"So he's got all the possibilities to break a lot of records. And not only him, I think, there's other guys on the team that are still young and have long careers."
52 goals is a tall task to achieve but Matthews has shown he is fully capable. When asked if he would want to bare witness to Matthews' breaking his record, Sundin gave the answer we all expected from him:
"As long as I get an invitation, for sure, I'll be here."
It's not even a matter of if Matthews breaks the record at this point, but when he does it. Given his outlandish goal production since his draft year, it feels more likely than not that Matthews will accomplish this feat perhaps even by the trade deadline.
| POLL | ||
SEPTEMBRE 25 | 1255 ANSWERS Leafs Legend Mats Sundin Issues Statement on Auston Matthews' Pursuit of His Goals Record in Toronto Will Auston Matthews break the franchise record for most goals this season? | ||
| Yes, he will definitely get 53 goals this year | 814 | 64.9 % |
| Only injuries will prevent him from that feat | 323 | 25.7 % |
| He'll just miss the cut but get it in 2025-26 | 118 | 9.4 % |
| List of polls | ||
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