Maple Leafs superstar Auston Matthews had one of the best regular seasons in recent history and he was rewarded Tuesday night.
The 24-year-old further cemented his status as one of the game's best goal scorers in winning his second consecutive Rocket Richard Trophy and becoming the first NHL player since Steven Stamkos in 2011-12 to score 60 goals in a season. As a result, he was a finalist for both the Hart Trophy and Ted Lindsay Award.
Even at his young age, Matthews is climbing the ranks among the NHL elite. Postseason success is next in order; the Maple Leafs were bounced yet again in the first round this year. But Matthews' season was dominant in terms of goal scoring.
There have been a number of great performances by Maple Leafs players in the franchise's storied history, and Matthews' 2021-22 season will be talked about as one of the best by a Leafs player. Tuesday night he added the Hart Trophy and Ted Lindsay Award to his trophy shelf.
The Sporting News looks at how Mathews' campaign compares to other Toronto greats.
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Most goals in a season by a Maple Leaf
Only one Maple Leaf in history has scored 60 goals in a season, and that's Matthews.
He not only broke Rick Vaive's franchise record for goals in a season, but he also became just the third player in the salary cap era to reach the milestone and the first American-born player to do so.
Matthews now owns two of the top 10 single-season goal totals in franchise history. There's a good chance he'll produce a few more by the time his career is over.
| PLAYER | SEASON | GOALS |
|---|---|---|
| Auston Matthews | 2021-22 | 60 |
| Rick Vaive | 1981-82 | 54 |
| Dave Andreychuk | 1993-94 | 53 |
| Rick Vaive | 1983-84 | 52 |
| Rick Vaive | 1982-83 | 51 |
| Gary Leeman | 1989-90 | 51 |
| Frank Mahovlich | 1960-61 | 48 |
| Auston Matthews | 2019-20 | 47 |
| Lanny McDonald | 1977-78 | 47 |
| John Tavares | 2018-19 | 47 |
Most points in a season by a Maple Leaf
Matthews joined Doug Gilmour and Darryl Sittler as the only Maple Leafs players to reach 100 points in a season. He recorded 106 during the 2021-22 campaign.
Both Gilmour and Sittler achieved it twice in their careers, with Gilmour owning the franchise record with 127. Matthews' 106 are fourth in franchise history.
| PLAYER | SEASON | POINTS |
|---|---|---|
| Doug Gilmour | 1992-93 | 127 |
| Darryl Sittler | 1977-78 | 117 |
| Doug Gilmour | 1993-94 | 111 |
| Auston Matthews | 2021-22 | 106 |
| Darryl Sittler | 1975-76 | 100 |
| Dave Andreychuk | 1993-94 | 99 |
| Darryl Sittler | 1979-80 | 97 |
| Wilf Paiement | 1980-81 | 97 |
| Mitch Marner | 2021-22 | 97 |
| Darryl Sittler | 1980-81 | 96 |
Highest points-per-game rate in a season by a Maple Leaf
Matthews' 2021-22 season was one of the most productive in quite some time.
With 106 points in 73 games, Matthews averaged 1.452 points per game. That surpassed his previous high of 1.269. It is the fourth-highest rate in Toronto history. Only Gilmour, Sittler and Lorne Carr have produced higher rates.
| PLAYER | SEASON | P/GP |
|---|---|---|
| Doug Gilmour | 1992-93 | 1.530 |
| Lorne Carr | 1943-44 | 1.480 |
| Darryl Sittler | 1977-78 | 1.463 |
| Auston Matthews | 2021-22 | 1.452 |
| Sweeney Schriner | 1944-45 | 1.423 |
| Syl Apps | 1942-43 | 1.379 |
| Mitch Marner | 2021-22 | 1.347 |
| Doug Gilmour | 1993-94 | 1.337 |
| Darryl Sittler | 1979-80 | 1.329 |
| Auston Matthews | 2020-21 | 1.269 |
