Toronto Maple Leafs fans fell in love with Auston Matthews the second the team was awarded the 1st overall pick in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, and that love for him has only grown throughout his rookie campaign.
A few days ago, Matthews broke Wendel Clark’s rookie record for goals when he recorded his 35th of the season.
On Monday night in Buffalo, Matthews kept his historic rookie campaign going, as he got in on three more records when he scored his 39th goal of the season.
Matthews scored just past the 5 minute mark of the opening period to give him 67 points on the year, which just so happens to be the new team record for points in a season.
The previous record was set by Peter Inhacak, who recorded 66 points during the 1982-83 season.
In 100 years as a franchise, Matthews has put together the greatest rookie season in franchise history. Not only did his 39th goal of the season give him the new Maple Leafs record for points in a season, but it gave him the record for most goals scored by an American rookie, breaking Neal Broten’s record of 38 set back in 1981-82.
The third record Matthews got in on with his 39th goal of the season was another franchise record. With his first-period goal, Matthews tied a Leafs record for most consecutive games with a goal by a rookie, tying Gaye Stewart’s record set during the 1942-43 season.
No wonder he was projected to go No. 1 overall in the NHL Entry Draft a full year before the draft.
