Auston Matthews

Auston Matthews, the captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs in the NHL, has proven to be a powerhouse player since he was selected first overall in the 2016 NHL entry draft by the Maple Leafs. Notably, he set records for most goals in a single season by an American-born player and a Maple Leafs player, reaching 60 goals in the 2021-22 season. Matthews has represented the United States in several international tournaments, earning him the USA Hockey Bob Johnson Award for excellence in international competition in 2015. His talent and leadership skills were recognized when he was named Captain of Team USA for the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off.

Matthews' professional hockey career has been marked by a series of notable achievements. He made his NHL debut in October 2016, impressively scoring four goals in his first game, a modern NHL record. He was awarded the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL's top rookie in 2017. His consistent performance earned him the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy as the league's leading goal scorer for the 2020-21 season and again for the 2021-22 season. In the same year, Matthews won the Ted Lindsay Award and the Hart Memorial Trophy. Despite undergoing wrist surgery in August 2021, he set a franchise record for the Toronto Maple Leafs by scoring 50 goals in the fewest games (62 games).

Off the ice, Matthews has also made a mark in the entertainment industry. He was named the cover athlete for EA Sports' ice hockey video game "NHL 20" in 2019 and again for "NHL 22." His charisma and popularity extended to television, where he made a guest appearance in the 2020 Justin Bieber documentary series "Justin Bieber: Seasons" and the 2021 sports documentary series "All or Nothing: Toronto Maple Leafs." With his many accolades and contributions to the game, Matthews is not only an iconic player in the NHL but also a respected representative of the sport around the world.