Toronto Maple Leafs star forward Auston Matthews has expressed his desire to remain with the team for his entire career. Drafted first overall by the Leafs in 2016, Matthews is starting the first year of his four-year, $53 million contract. On August 14, he was named the 26th captain of the Maple Leafs and shared his goal of being a “Leaf for life.” Matthews remarked at the press conference, “I think that is the goal to be a Leaf for life, to win here with my teammates for the city. I’ve loved every minute of being a Toronto Maple Leaf, and it’s a tremendous honor. I hope that is the case.”
Matthews, one of the NHL’s top players and the face of the franchise, received enthusiastic support from fans after expressing his long-term commitment. Fans reacted positively, with comments celebrating his passion and dedication. Despite his intention to stay, Matthews’ future is not guaranteed, but his recent four-year extension demonstrates his commitment to Toronto.
Last season, Matthews scored 69 goals and 38 assists for 107 points in 81 games. Over his career, he has played 562 games, with 368 goals and 281 assists, totaling 649 points.
Named captain on August 14, Matthews takes over from John Tavares, who chose to pass the captaincy to him. Matthews expressed his humility and honor at the new role, stating, “I’m incredibly humbled to be named captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs…We all embrace the history of this franchise, and we are determined to get the job done.” He is now the fifth-youngest captain in the NHL, following Brady Tkachuk, Quinn Hughes, Nick Suzuki, and Nico Hischier.
