Auston Matthews Is Back: 3 Reasons He's Rejoined the NHL's Elite
Auston Matthews is starting to look like himself again—and that puts him right back in the conversation as one of the NHL's five best players. Before the season, given last season’s totals, I wouldn’t have put Matthews in my top 10. After an injury-marred 2025–26 campaign, that seemed reasonable. He played just 60 games, finished with 27 goals and 53 points, and had MCL surgery after missing the final 16 games. There were real reasons to wonder whether the old version of Matthews would still show up.
Now? Maple Leafs fans need to reconsider.
Related: ex-Maple Leafs Nick Robertson Is Finding Something in Pittsburgh
Three Reasons Matthews Is Making His Case Again.
First, his production is back. Through 16 games, Matthews has 11 goals and 13 assists for 24 points. That’s a point-and-a-half per game, and he’s tied for third in the league in both goals and points. It’s not just a couple of hot nights carrying the total, either: he’s been piling up points throughout October.
Second, he looks like a driver again. Matthews isn’t just waiting around for a perfect pass or hoping a teammate gets hot. He’s scoring, setting up goals, and producing on the power play. That mix matters. The old Matthews could beat you with a quick release, but he could also turn a shift into a problem for the other team in several different ways. Right now, the numbers suggest he’s doing that again.
Third, he’s giving Toronto a reason to believe the rough season was a detour—not the new normal. Last year’s injuries and surgery made it fair to lower expectations. But they didn’t erase what Matthews has done over his career, including two 60-goal seasons. A healthy, confident Matthews changes the conversation around the Leafs. He makes them more dangerous, and he makes their ceiling harder to dismiss.
It’s Still Early for Matthews and the Maple Leafs.
Now, it’s still early. Sixteen games don’t settle the debate, and nobody should pencil in a career-best season in November. But this is a strong enough start to say Matthews belongs in the top-five discussion right now. He's not in the conversation on reputation alone. He's producing like one of the league's best players again.
My pre-season thinking was too cautious. Matthews has made me rethink it—and there’s plenty of season left to make the case even stronger.