Toronto Maple Leafs: Auston Matthews Era Will Be Huge

Auston-Matthews’ era with the Toronto Maple Leafs is going to plunge the team into years of top play.

Auston Matthews is the name every NHL fan has been saying for over a year now. The 2016 1st overall pick has already made his incredible NHL debut last season and is kicking off a long and successful tenure with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Matthews’ era isn’t just going to be his own success because his teammates and fans will share in it too. Matthews, alongside players like Mitch Marner and William Nylander, are about to plunge the Leafs into a very successful era.

Much like the Pittsburgh Penguins’ very successful Sidney Crosby era, the Leafs are about to fly into years that will remind the team about the ‘good old days’.

The Auston Matthews Era

Welcome to a new era. The Maple Leafs have had some very good eras since the Original Six team had its start in 1917. Who can forget 10 Stanley Cups from 1941 to 1967, where you lived it or not?

Last season, the Leafs notched their second playoff appearance since 2004. It certainly won’t be their last with Matthews. Toronto went from ranking last in the NHL in 2015-16 to their wild card spot in the playoffs last season in just a year. In fact, if the Leafs hadn’t faced the President’s Trophy winning Washington Capitals, they might have gone further in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

The difference between this season and the many before is the team’s outstanding rookie presence, led by Matthews. These young players are ready to thrust their team into winning seasons, much like Crosby did upon joining the Penguins.

A year into Crosby’s tenure as a Penguin, the team hit a playoff streak that led them to three Stanley Cups. The Leafs could follow the same fate as they enter Matthews’ era.

Matthews’ Impact

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The Calder Trophy winning forward is huge for the Maple Leafs. Matthews, Marner and Nylander came to the team at just the right time. Each of these young stars posted at least 60 points last season and were incredibly reliable for their team. As a whole, the Maple Leafs performed extremely well last season. They were scoring, playing hard and winning. Toronto looked like a new team from the moment they took the ice on opening night.

Matthews has an importance in Toronto. Not only is the rookie a hockey phenom, but he represents a new era and a renewal to Leafs hockey. Win or lose, Toronto Maple Leafs fans have loved their team for years. Now that a player to Matthews’ magnitude is here to lead the team, they are ready for him.

His play and hockey smarts are years ahead of his age and he will always be an offensive player that the Leafs can rely on. A change of confidence is significant for a team and the Leafs are all turning pages as they enter this new ‘era’ of play.

More than just a few Leafs had big seasons last season as opposed to the season prior, including James van Riemsdyk (62 P), Nazem Kadri (61 P) and Tyler Bozak (55 P). Even younger players like Connor Brown (36 P) and Nylander’s big 61 point season had turnarounds this season.

Leading to Success

Matthews’ confidence in his team and skill is contagious and his team is chasing success alongside him. Just as Crosby’s presence revitalized the Penguins, Matthews is revitalizing the Maple Leafs.

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For Toronto, the young Matthews was everything the team needed for boosted young skill, strong confidence and the optimism to chase the Stanley Cup with everything they’ve got. Matthews will be one of the NHL’s greatest players and his history as an ‘NHL great’ begins now.