Auston Matthews 2025–26: Stats, Injuries, Maple Leafs Standings, and the Mats Sundin Record in His Sights
Auston Matthews is having one of the most scrutinized seasons of his NHL career — battling injuries, a scoring pace below his elite standard, and a Toronto Maple Leafs team sitting seventh in the Atlantic Division. Yet the moments of brilliance still arrive, including a hat trick that pushed him to within one goal of the most storied record in Maple Leafs franchise history.
Auston Matthews 2025–26 Season Stats
Matthews has 15 goals and 26 points through 32 appearances in 2025–26, his first season since his rookie year in which he has averaged less than a point per game. The drop from his career-high 69-goal, 107-point campaign in 2023–24 is stark — but injuries have played an enormous role.
| Stat | 2025–26 (32 GP) | 2023–24 Career High |
|---|---|---|
| Goals | 15 | 69 |
| Assists | 12+ | 38 |
| Points | 27+ | 107 |
| Points Per Game | <1.0 | 1.30 |
| Hat Tricks | 1 | — |
The Mats Sundin All-Time Record Chase
The highlight of Matthews' season so far came in a 6–5 win over the Winnipeg Jets, when he delivered his 14th career NHL hat trick. His third goal of that game was his 419th regular-season goal in the NHL, putting him one goal away from tying Mats Sundin for the most goals in Maple Leafs franchise history. When Matthews finally ties and breaks that mark, it will be one of the defining moments in Toronto hockey history.
Injury Timeline: A Season of Setbacks
The 2025–26 campaign has been defined as much by the training room as the ice. Matthews suffered a lower-body injury on November 8 after a hit from Boston Bruins defenseman Nikita Zadorov, missing five games before returning in late November. He then reaggravated an upper-body issue on December 20, forcing him to miss six additional games before returning to action in early January.
During his November recovery, Matthews took a five-day trip to Germany to visit a specialist whom he and other Maple Leafs players have worked with in the past. A second lower-body scare came later — sustained while blocking a shot in a 3–2 overtime loss to Detroit — forcing him out of another game before returning.
Toronto Maple Leafs: Where They Stand
The Maple Leafs enter the week sitting 7th in the Atlantic Division with a 27–21 record — outside the playoff picture in a cutthroat conference. With Tampa Bay leading the division at 37–14, Toronto needs a strong final third of the season to secure a postseason berth.
| Atlantic Division | W | L | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tampa Bay Lightning | 37 | 14 | 74 |
| Montreal Canadiens | 32 | 17 | 64 |
| Detroit Red Wings | 33 | 19 | 66 |
| Buffalo Sabres | 32 | 19 | 64 |
| Boston Bruins | 32 | 20 | 64 |
| Ottawa Senators | 28 | 22 | 56 |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | 27 | 21 | 54 |
| Florida Panthers | 29 | 25 | 58 |
Next Game: Tampa Bay Lightning, February 25
Toronto's next game is on the road against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday, February 25 at 7:30 PM ET, followed immediately by a visit to the Florida Panthers on February 26. Matthews is centering a line with Matthew Knies and Max Domi, and is also featured on the first power-play unit. Back-to-back games against Atlantic division rivals make these two contests essentially must-wins.
Auston Matthews: The Big Picture
Matthews remains the best goal scorer in the NHL today. He finished 2023–24 with 69 goals — the most in a single season since 1995–96 — and is the only player to record multiple 60-goal seasons since the salary cap era began in 2005–06.
He entered this season healthy and confident after playing through an undisclosed injury for most of 2024–25, when he still managed 78 points in 67 games despite posting a career-low 33 goals. His teammates praised his leadership through that adversity, calling him a "tremendous leader" who carried the group through the playoffs.
At 28 years old, with the all-time Maple Leafs goal record one puck away and a playoff race heating up, the back half of Auston Matthews' 2025–26 season just became must-watch hockey.
