Former Maple Leaf to 'pass the torch' to Auston Matthews on Saturday morning.

Toronto Maple Leafs star forward Auston Matthews will receive a very special honor on Saturday morning, and although it won't be a moment that will be noted in any of the National Hockey League's history books, it will likely still prove to be one that is quite significant to the man himself.

Earlier this week Matthews set the single season franchise record for goal scoring by a Toronto Maple Leaf when he reached the 55 goal plateau, a mark that he would then surpass himself later in the same game by adding his 56th goal of the season. The record had previously been held by former Toronto Maple Leafs forward Rick Vaive, who set his record of 54 goals by a Leaf in the 1981 - 1982 NHL regular season which also happened to be the first time in Maple Leafs franchise history a player crossed the 50 goal plateau.

When Vaive broke the record it was a special moment for him thanks to another former Toronto Maple Leafs player, the legendary Frank Mahovlich. Mahovlich had been the record holder prior to Vaive breaking his record with a single season total of 48 goals in the 1960 - 1961 NHL regular season, and he was on hand when Vaive beat his record to congratulate him for his efforts. Since Matthews broke his record on the road in Dallas, Vaive was unable to celebrate the moment with him but has expressed his intention to do so by passing the torch to Matthews on Saturday morning as Mahovlich did for him in the past.

There's been no confirmation or indication that Frank Mahovlich himself will be a part of the little impromptu ceremony that will take place on Saturday morning, but given that he is still with us at the young age of 84 it is not outside the realm of possibility.

It is quite beautiful to see such a long and storied tradition carried down through so many years and through so many generations of players, and one can only hope that perhaps someday Auston Matthews will be on hand to pass the torch on to the next young star that will one day beat his record setting performance from this season.