Sudin knows what he’s talking about. He scored the most goals (420) and points (987) in Toronto history, playing 981 games. “It could break them both,” Sudin said. “He’s already on his way. Just look at what he did.” Matthews became the fourth Maple Leafs player with a season of 50 goals when he scored in the empty net during the 7-3 home win over the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday. Rick Vaive (1981-82, 1982-83, 1983-84), Gary Lyman (1989-90) and Dave Andreicuk (1992-93, 1993-94) also scored 50 for Toronto. Matthews has scored 438 points (249 goals, 189 assists) in 396 games, averaging 1.11 points per game and 0.629 goals per game. At his current pace, Matthews would become Toronto’s goal leader in 272 games, which is expected at the beginning of the 2025-26 season. He would break Sundin’s 496-point points record by now, just over six seasons away. “Like I said, he would have to stay in Toronto to do it. And why not do it?” said Sudin. “There is no better place to play hockey, no place where they care more about the team and the players than Toronto.” Video: WPG @ TOR: Matthews scores No. 50 in the Jets’ empty net Matthews is in the third season of a five-year, $ 58.17 million contract (average annual value of $ 11.634 million) that he signed on February 5, 2019. He can be released without restrictions after the 2023-24 season in the NHL. “In my opinion, it’s the perfect spot,” Sundin said. “I would not trade the Toronto attacking team for me [Mitchell] Marner and John Tavares, William Nylander and the rest, for anyone. “With all the foundations there and all the strengths they have in a team like Marner, the future is bright. And as he is so young, there is an opportunity to break many of the records.” Doug Gilmore said he felt the same way. Gilmour, who set a Maple Leafs season record of 127 points in 1992-93, said Matthews reminded him of Jaromir Jagr, who is second on the NHL points list (1,921) and fourth in goals (766). . “I agree with Mats. The way the rules are today, there is no limit to the records that Auston or even Marner can break one day, including mine,” Gilmour said on Friday. “And the thing with Auston is that it’s not just his shot. He’s such a big body (6-foot-3, 205 pounds) and he can protect the elf like Jagr did. He can get into the net. “They can do nothing about it.” Vaive, who set a Maple Leafs record of 54 goals in 1981-82, said it was only a matter of time before Matthews broke that record. “The way he goes, he can do it until next week,” Vaive said this week. “I mean, I was known for my shot and hers is just as deadly. But they need more than that. The opponents know you’re going to shoot like they did with me, so you have to know how to find space, to create space. He’s great at it. . “Heaven is the limit for him.” Matthews, the No. 1 pick in the 2016 NHL Draft, has scored at least 34 goals in each of his six NHL seasons and is tied with Daryl Seitler for most of the season with 40 goals in Maple Leafs history (four ). Stitler, who scored the second most points in the history of Toronto (916), understands that Matthews will probably be ahead of him in a season with 40 goals as early as next season. “What strikes me most is that Auston is improving every season,” Sittler said on Friday. “His effort in the backcheck and in the defensive zone is tangible. It just gets better and better. “Now you see, when he protects a lead, he ‘s out there at the end of the game. The great players do that. Sidney Crosby. Patrick Kane. Jonathan Toews at his peak. And now Auston. “Hi, he could have scored 50 in the previous two seasons, if it were not for the pandemic. The way this kid is doing, the best is yet to come.” Matthews scored 41 goals in 52 games last season and 47 goals in 70 games in 2019-20. He leads the NHL in 62 games this season. Sittler said there was one hurdle Matthews had to overcome to take the next step: his lack of success in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Toronto lost all five consecutive playoffs with Matthews. The Maple Leafs, who play the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday (7 p.m. ET; CBC, SNO, SNP, NBCSP, ESPN +, NHL LIVE), are one point behind Tampa Bay Lightning for second place in the Atlantic Division. “It’s going to be judged like everyone else,” Seitler said. “He has a little bit of that (success in the playoffs) and he will be at another level.”
