Auston Matthews’ Legacy Grows With Gold Medal Win

Yet, while winning an Olympic gold medal isn’t the exact same as winning a Stanley Cup in the NHL, to take the title of champion away from the country’s captain would be unjust. After all, he will go down as one of the many leaders on a championship winning team – hence the title of champion or winner.

But with his return to Toronto imminent, the question has already surfaced. How will this impact his run with the Maple Leafs? And – more importantly – how does his change his legacy as a professional hockey player?

Matthews’ Contributions to Gold Medal Aren’t Just Surface Level

While his seven points in six games during the tournament were impressive, his assist in the gold-medal game might be the biggest one of all – recognizing that he still came to play on the big stage in a big game. That, of course, is one of many criticisms that Matthews has faced during his time with the Maple Leafs. But it wasn’t just his offensive numbers – goals and assists – that made him the right choice to lead the Americans in this Olympic tournament.

There was a common reaction amongst his teammates that kept surfacing in quotes from this American comrades. Essentially, they noted how much offence that Matthews has sacrificed in becoming an all-around asset in all areas of the ice. He’s become a better 200-foot game over the past five seasons and while the numbers have dropped, his puck retrieval and defensive zone coverage have become a stronger part to his game.

Still, his ability to create was one of the best each time the Americans stepped on the ice. He led by example and, even with the criticisms around his leadership, demonstrated why he was able to help the Americans to a gold medal win. Some outside the team even noted that his play was the most passionate they had seen in some time. We’ll leave that up for debate.

But like him or not, you can’t argue results. And Matthews left Italy with gold around his neck and the ‘C’ still on his jersey. So, how should we approach the Matthews storyline from here on out?

Matthews’ Legacy Benefits From Becoming a Champion

The simple answer is, that from here on out, Matthews is a champion. Maybe not in the NHL, but on an international stage while representing his country. As for his legacy as a professional player, there’s no question that his overall stock has risen with the gold medal next to his name.

While Matthews wanted to live in the moment just a little while longer as his post-game press conference took place, Jack and Quinn Hughes has more to say in defence of their captain.

“It doesn’t matter what anyone says now. Auston Matthews is a winner,” said Jack sitting next to Matthews. “Auston Matthews is an Olympic gold medalist. He’s a winner.”

“Yeah, that’s what the media in Toronto should be talking about,” said older brother, Quinn. “Auston Matthews led us to a championship.”

So maybe it’s a toxicity that exists in Toronto or simply a lack of unity amongst the team, but the Maple Leafs will now have a winner playing amongst them – to go along with the others who’ve won on the international stage and Stanley Cups in the NHL. But now, their leader has that feeling of what it’s like to win on the big stage and that can benefit both the player and the team.

“I think it helps,” said Matthews’ Maple Leafs teammate, Oliver Ekman-Larsson. “You get the taste of winning and whatever it takes. Bounces. Luck. I think, the whole experience that’s how I felt. Whenever I get the chance to win something or be apart of something special I think that’s what you take with you. You feed off and build off it. It’s great he got that experience and he was a big part of it.”

Auston Matthews: The Winner

Regardless of how it plays out in Toronto – whether it be the next few seasons or longer – Matthews road to creating a legacy in hockey has changed with the gold medal win. At just 28 years old, he’s 11th on the all-time list for goals by an American-born player in the NHL and sits just 225 points away from 1,000 in his career.

He holds the franchise record for the Maple Leafs in goals and continues to chase Mats Sundin on the all-time points list. His individual successes have been well-documented from his Calder Trophy to his Hart, Ted Lindsay Award and his three Rocket Richards.

While the Stanley Cup still eludes him, he’s now added a gold medal to his name. He’s a winner. He’s a champion and none of us can take that away from him. So, without sending him right to the Hall, does the win change the road he’s on in creating a legacy? The simple answer, after all that, still remains – yes.