Auston Matthews quietly created more NHL history this past season for Toronto

Last season, Auston Matthews was a goal scoring machine, netting an amazing 69 goals en route to winning his third career Maurice Richard Trophy as the NHL's top goal scorer. However, it's another record that went largely unnoticed that has now been pointed out on social media, and it could disspell a major misconception about the Maple Leafs superstar.

The 50 goal mark is something Matthews has hit before and will likely hit again in his career, but with 70 blocks, he is showing his commitment to the Maple Leafs on the defensive end. Sure, he's likely not going to be a candidate for the Selke Award anytime soon, but given the defensive play of John Tavares, Max Domi and Mitch Marner up front, if Matthews continues this level of play, it will help them in a big way come playoff time.

Around the league, Matthews isn't seen as a defensive specialist, but with his size and athleticism, the development has been a fantastic story for Toronto, and will likely continue on the upward trajectory in 2024/25.

Source: Maple Leafs Daily
Auston Matthews sets new NHL record, which has gone largely unnoticed