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Few players in the National Hockey League (NHL) have been as dominant a goal scorer in recent years as Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews. He has claimed the Rocket Richard Trophy, awarded to the league’s top goal scorer, in three of the last four seasons. However, after an impressive 69-goal campaign in the 2023-24 season, Matthews has seen a noticeable decline in his goal-scoring output this year. Through 46 games (missing several due to injury), he has only netted 22 goals, putting him on pace for a modest 30-goal season.
While 30 goals would be a solid achievement for most players, it falls short of Matthews’ usual standards, and he’s well aware of it.
“I’d obviously like to score more,” Matthews admitted on Wednesday. “I’ll try to stop hitting so many posts, but sometimes that’s the way it goes. Just gotta keep shooting and keep believing… Scoring’s kind of been my thing, but I like to think I’m a complete player.”
Some analysts suggest that Matthews’ dip in production could be linked to the more defensive system implemented by first-year Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube. Unlike a high-octane, run-and-gun style, Berube’s approach prioritizes keeping the puck out of their own net, which may have impacted Matthews’ offensive opportunities.
Matthews and the Maple Leafs are set to face the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena on Wednesday night, hoping to turn things around.
Matthews Advocates for Roster Additions Ahead of NHL Trade Deadline
Beyond reflecting on his goal-scoring struggles, Matthews also shared his thoughts on the upcoming NHL trade deadline. He made it clear that he would welcome roster reinforcements, similar to moves already made by other teams.
“This time of year, you see teams adding, and you want to add as well,” Matthews said on Tuesday, per Daily Faceoff. “So I’m sure management and staff are doing a lot of thinking right now, doing a lot of homework and stuff like that, and I’ll leave it in their hands.”
Several teams have already made significant moves. The Tampa Bay Lightning acquired Yanni Gourde and Oliver Bjorkstrand from the Seattle Kraken, while the Colorado Avalanche picked up Ryan Lindgren and Jimmy Vesey from the New York Rangers. The Edmonton Oilers also bolstered their lineup by adding Trent Frederic from the Boston Bruins.
The Maple Leafs have a history of making impactful deadline acquisitions, such as bringing in Luke Schenn and Ryan O’Reilly in 2023. Whether they’ll make similar moves this year remains to be seen.
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