After Mitch Marner left Toronto, report suggests a new threat to Auston Matthews’ reign is rising in Vegas

Trading Mitch Marner ahead of the 2025-26 NHL season is a move whose consequences Auston Matthews and the Toronto Maple Leafs will feel in countless ways. For better or worse, it will be brought up repeatedly throughout the upcoming campaign. And now, a report suggests Matthews’ reign could be threatened by Marner’s arrival on the Vegas Golden Knights.

Ever since entering the NHL in 2016, Auston Matthews has stood head and shoulders above the rest of the league in goal scoring. The first-overall pick made that clear from the start, netting four goals in his Toronto Maple Leafs debut. Despite his surreal opening act, the Leafs lost—perhaps foreshadowing what was to come in his years in Toronto. No matter how great or poor his performance, something always seemed to be missing.

From the 2016-17 season onwards, no player in the NHL has scored more goals than Matthews (401). In the top-10, only Nikita Kucherov (592) has appeared in less games than the Leafs’ captain (629) in that span.

Now, many wonder how will Matthews’ goal-production fare during his first season without Marner in Toronto. The Ontario-native has played a key role in the captain’s success finding the back of the net.

Jack Eichel #9 of the Vegas Golden Knights warms up before a game against the Calgary Flames at T-Mobile Arena on December 29, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

It’s a match

Regardless, that duo is no longer together in The Six. Both players are expected to feel the impact from their drifting apart. However, in Vegas, Marner will join another American sniper, Jack Eichel. Eichel has never had someone on his wing with Marner’s vision and ability to create high-danger chances for his teammates. It’s a match made in heaven—and how fitting that it takes place in Sin City.

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“Marner’s playmaking talents made him the main setup man for Matthews, who’s won the Rocket Richard Trophy three times,” The Hockey News’ Julian Gaudio stated. “Heading to Vegas, it would be shocking if Eichel doesn’t obliterate his career high of 36 goals. Although Eichel and Matthews are different players, Eichel has all the makings of a 50-goal scorer if he changes his mindset.”

As reports suggest, the new group forming on The Strip could pose a serious threat to Matthews’ current reign for the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy, awarded annually to the NHL’s leading goal scorer. Matthews has taken the award home in 2021, 2022, and 2024.

Mitchell Marner #16 the Toronto Maple Leafs skates during practice prior to playing against the Buffalo Sabres during the 2022 Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic at Tim Hortons Field on March 12, 2022 in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

Tied with the Gr8 One

Since entering the league, Matthews has more than met expectations and obliterated others. He might be in debt when it comes to hoisting the Stanley Cup in Toronto. Still, aside from that—or his playoff production—he’s been as good as advertised.

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Averaging 44.5 goals per season, it’s no wonder Matthews has won the “Rocket” Richard trophy three times in nine NHL seasons. He is tied with Alex Ovechkin for most since the 2016-17 campaign.

Matthews holds the best chance to snap Ovechkin’s all-time goal record down the road. His numbers so far make it easy to believe in him. If he keeps up this pace, it will come down to his availability and motivation to play in as many seasons as the “Gr8 One” has.