The Pressure Auston Matthews Feels in Toronto

There is something I've been thinking about with Auston Matthews that has nothing to do with his next contract. What if the thing that bothers an elite athlete isn't criticism? What if it's being told, over and over, that he's still pretty darn good?

That's where Matthews finds himself heading into another Maple Leafs season. He isn't failing. He isn't even playing badly by normal NHL standards. His last two seasons would be perfectly respectable for most players.

But Matthews isn't most players. He scored 33 goals and 78 points in 67 games in 2024-25. Last season, injuries limited him to 60 games, and he finished with 27 goals and 53 points. Those are good numbers. And maybe that's the problem.

Criticism Gives You Something to Fight Against.

Nobody is telling Matthews that he's washed up. Nobody is suggesting he isn't one of the best players in hockey. Quite the opposite. The message seems to be that an off year for Auston Matthews is still a pretty good season. I wonder how that feels if you're Auston Matthews.

I can't know, obviously. But if I were an elite athlete and everyone kept reassuring me I was still really good, even though I knew I wasn’t playing at my best, I’d probably want someone to push a little harder. That's because criticism gives you something to fight. Reassurance can lower the bar.

And elite athletes don't usually become elite by settling for a lowered bar.

Maybe Matthews Needs a Different Question.

Matthews has already proved he can score goals. He has won the Rocket Richard Trophy and the Hart Trophy. He has also scored 69 goals in a season. So perhaps the question isn't whether he can still be good. Maybe it's: How good can I still be?

Can he get back to 50 goals? Can he once again become the player opposing teams have to build their entire defensive game around? Can he take over games? Can he lead the Maple Leafs to a Stanley Cup?

For Matthews, Money Might Not Be the Biggest Motivation.

Those are much more interesting questions than whether his next contract might be worth another couple of million dollars. Matthews already makes $13.25 million a season. At that point, the money isn't really about the money anymore.

It's about what the money says. It's about being worth it. And perhaps that's where the real motivation lies.

The Maple Leafs have changed the roster and the coaching staff and have continued to build around Matthews. They've essentially told their captain, “You’re our guy.” Now show us.

Maybe that's exactly what Matthews needs. Not somebody telling him he's still good. Somebody challenging him to find out how good he can still be.