Auston Matthews: “I could give a s**t”

Toronto Maple Leafs superstar forward Auston Matthews is the two-time reigning Rocket Richard Trophy winner as the National Hockey League's top goal scorer, and for good reason. His last season total of hitting the 60 goal mark helped the Leafs to their best season in decades, and firmly cemented his status as one of hockey's top snipers. 

However, this season he's scoring at a slower pace. While his offensive touch certainly hasn't dried up, it's not been as effective as in year's past. In the 14 games he's suited up in, he's lit the lamp six times along with eight assists. Over an 82 game span, that works out to a pace of 35 goals and 47 assists - extremely solid numbers by just about anyone's measuring stick. 

So what does Matthews have to say about the noise coming from people who are pointing out that he's not scoring quite as much so far in the 2022-23 season? Frankly, he doesn't care, because he only has one ultimate goal on his mine. 

“I mean, we have one goal and that’s obviously to win,” he explained. “I could really give a sh-t whatever everybody else out there thinks about hit this, hit that, like, I just want to win. So I could really care less.”

Even after accepting the goal scoring award this past summer in Vegas, Matthews explained that he knows that he and his team will be judged by higher aspirations.

“I feel like I know what I’m capable of,” Matthews said then, “and I want to continue to get better and grow as a player and as a leader on this team. But I mean, in the end, we’re judged off of wins and I mean, I just want to win."

“So, whatever it takes.”

Leafs fans will certainly appreciate that as they look to break their lengthy postseason skid next spring.