PuckSleuth
34Toronto Maple Leafs · Center · Shoots L
Auston Matthews
Age 29 · 6'3" · 214 lb · Born in San Ramon, USA
Cap hit
$13.25M
12.7% of $104M cap
Term
2 yrs
Through 2027-28, then UFA
Clause
NMC
Surplus value
−$3.018M
vs. $10.232M market estimate
Confirmed by the public signing announcement · source
2026-27 regular season
GP
2
Goals
0
0.0% shooting
Assists
0
0 primary
Points
0
0.00 per game
TOI/GP
21:19
PP 4:25 · PK 0:31
xGF%
61.9
5v5, +13.8 vs. last yr
Game Score
-0.31
per game, goals above average
Faceoff %
—
13 W · 10 L
Plus/minus
-2
Blocks 1 · Hits 1
Game log
Last 5 games · NHL API
| Game | G | A | SOG | HIT | BLK | TOI | PP | PK | FO | OZS% | GV | TK | +/- | GS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 30 vs NYI · W 2-1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 20:04 | 4:45 | 0:00 | 8-5 | 50 | 0 | 0 | -1 | -0.55 |
| Sep 29 vs MTL · L 3-2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 22:34 | 4:04 | 1:01 | 5-5 | 100 | 0 | 0 | -1 | -0.07 |
| Mar 12 vs ANA · W 6-4 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 13:18 | 2:55 | 1:35 | 5-2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +1.08 |
| Mar 10 @ MTL · L 3-1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 22:28 | 2:23 | 2:10 | 13-7 | 75 | 0 | 1 | 0 | -0.63 |
| Mar 7 vs TBL · L 5-2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 19:17 | 4:11 | 0:08 | 9-3 | 50 | 0 | 0 | -2 | -0.65 |
GS = our Game Score, goals above average. FO = faceoffs won-lost. OZS% = share of his 5v5 offensive and defensive zone faceoff starts that were in the offensive zone. GV/TK = giveaways/takeaways.
Advanced metrics
5v5 unless noted · 2025-26 · 908 min · percentile vs. NHL forwards
40th percentile
72nd percentile
39th percentile
22nd percentile
69th percentile
28th percentile
62nd percentile
47th percentile
9th percentile
98th percentile
28th percentile
55th percentile
72nd percentile
71st percentile
xGF% is his team's share of 5v5 expected goals while he was on the ice, from our own expected goals model; HDCF% counts only high-danger chances (xG of 0.15 or more). IPP is the share of his team's 5v5 goals while he was on the ice that he scored or assisted on. Relative stats compare him with his team when he was off the ice. Goals above expected and ixG/60 use his own shots at all strengths. PDO and OZS% describe luck and deployment, so their bars are grey.
Play styleElite scoring center
Trait percentiles vs. NHL centers · 2025-26
Matthews is a pure goal scorer who dominates through elite shot volume and puck management, playing a perimeter-based game that emphasizes volume and positioning over speed or physicality. He drives play from the offensive zone but lacks the defensive consistency and forechecking engagement typical of complete two-way centers.
- Shooting volume
- 99
- Playmaking
- 68
- Zone entries(est.)
- 70
- Forechecking
- 29
- Physicality
- 44
- Defensive impact
- 42
- Puck management
- 85
- Speed
- 40
Where he shoots from
Slot 51% · Mid-range 37% · Perimeter 12%(329 unblocked shots)
Strengths
- 99th percentile shooting volume makes him a constant scoring threat
- 85th percentile puck management keeps possession and creates chances
- 71% of shots from slot and mid-range show elite scoring positioning
Watch-outs
- 29th percentile forechecking limits his ability to drive play from deeper areas
- 40th percentile speed constrains his rush chances and transition game
- 42nd percentile defensive impact means limited downside prevention
Similar style: Joel Eriksson Ek (MIN), Tomas Hertl (VGK)
Built from play-by-play, shift data, and NHL EDGE tracking. Zone entries is an estimate (rush chances while he is on the ice) until tracking data is added.
Where his Game Score comes from
2025-26 · 60 GP · goals above average
Season total +0.6 goals, or +0.01 per game.
- Even strength offense
- +0.2
- Even strength defense
- -0.8
- Power play
- +0.4
- Penalty kill
- +0.1
- Finishing
- -2.1
- Playmaking
- +0.2
- Penalties
- +0.8
- Faceoffs
- +1.9
Game Score adds up a player's impact in goals compared with an average player given the same ice time: his share of expected goals for and against at even strength, on the power play, and on the penalty kill, plus finishing (goals minus expected goals), primary assists, penalties drawn and taken, and faceoffs. Goalies are measured by goals saved above expected.
By season
Regular season
| Season | Team | GP | G | A | P | +/- | SOG | TOI/GP | FO% | GS/GP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | TOR | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -2 | 4 | 21:19 | — | -0.31 |
| 2025-26 | TOR | 60 | 27 | 26 | 53 | -4 | 227 | 20:48 | 59.7% | +0.01 |
| 2024-25 | TOR | 67 | 33 | 45 | 78 | +11 | 261 | 20:28 | 56.8% | +0.07 |
| 2023-24 | TOR | 81 | 69 | 38 | 107 | +31 | 369 | 20:58 | 53.4% | +0.38 |
| 2022-23 | TOR | 74 | 40 | 45 | 85 | +31 | 327 | 20:17 | 52.4% | +0.22 |
Latest news
Headlines from news outlets and team blogs
- Maple Leafs Practice Report: Kirill Marchenko's Skates With Auston Matthews, Jim Hiller Resists Easton Cowan Promotion, And Gavin McKenna Adjusts
Yahoo · Oct 3
- “Probably the easiest thing you could do is flip Nylander and Sissons” — Anthony Petrielli talks the Maple Leafs’ middle-six forward mix on SN590
mapleleafshotstove.com · Oct 2
- Maple Leafs And Matthews Had Priorities; Knies Found Out the Hard Way What They Are
nhltradetalk.com · Oct 1
- Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews to request a trade? NHL analyst predicts 2027 blockbuster
Hockey Patrol · Oct 1
- Auston Matthews could be headed to the Flyers in this shocking trade prediction
Editor In Leaf · Oct 1
- Matthew Knies trade takes another turn after new Auston Matthews revelation
Hockey Patrol · Oct 1
- Kirill Marchenko Could Reach 100 Points With Auston Matthews
Yahoo Sports · Oct 1
- Ducks' Radko Gudas gets 5-game ban for kneeing Auston Matthews
abc30.com · Oct 1
Sentiment & chatter
Fans
—
Beat writers
—
Media
—
Fan, beat writer, and media scores, the 14-day trade chatter chart, and the latest mentions appear once sentiment scoring is switched on. Mentions are already being collected.
Recent Game Scores
Last 10 games · goals above average
Average -0.28 per game over these 10.
Skating · NHL EDGE
2026-27, as of Oct 2
- Top speed
- 21.5 mph
- 78th pct
- 20+ mph bursts
- 3
- Hardest shot
- 78.0 mph
- 74th pct
- Distance
- 7.0 mi
- OZ time
- 46.9%
- 76th pct
- DZ time
- 37.1%
Age curve
NHL forwards · production index
At 29, forwards typically produce 89% of their peak (age 24). His contract runs through age 30, when the typical level is 84%.
From 24 seasons of NHL results, adjusted for league scoring and save percentage in each era. Shaded bars are the seasons left on his contract.
Contract by season
2 seasons left
| Season | Team | Cap hit | % of cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | TOR | $13.25M | 12.7% |
| 2027-28 | TOR | $13.25M | 11.7% |
UFA after 2027-28. NMC. $26.5M in cap hits left. % of cap uses each season's ceiling where the league has set one ($104M this season, $113.5M in 2027-28).