Auston Matthews Breaks Silence On Why He Chose To Stay In Toronto

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Tom Banks
October 25, 2023 (5:46 PM)

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Auston Matthews big deal was one of the biggest moves of the summer in the NHL, as he locks in with Toronto for another four-years, and now, the Leafs and perhaps the NHL's biggest star has opened up on the latest episode of the Pat McAfee Show.

Staying in Toronto

Among other topics, McAfee asked Matthews what it was like playing in Toronto, especially with the expectations and famed Maple Leafs media and fans, and Matthews gave a very interesting answer.

I love the fans, the city's great. I've been fortunate to play and have great teammates along the way. It's been a really special ride and I've enjoyed every minute of it.

While some players can get overwhelmed by the media and fans constant criticism in Toronto, it appears Matthews takes it in stride and enjoys all aspects of it, and along with having talented teammates, this is no doubt a reason why he inked a new deal.

I'm lucky, I play with some good players so they tend to get me the puck and yeah, I just try to put it in the net.

It appears as though Matthews was never likely to go anywhere else as a free agent, because he's become synonymous with the city of Toronto and the Maple Leafs, and it's obvious just how much this team means to him.

Hockey Growing

At this point it's no secret that the NHL lags behind MLB, NFL and NBA as leagues in North America, and perhaps the biggest reason for that is the lack of awareness and personalities, but Matthews addressed that too.

I don't know. It could be a lot of different things," he told McAfee. "I mean, I think hockey guys are pretty simple guys, pretty down to earth. So, I don't know. But, like I said, the sport's growing. I think with us being on ESPN now, and just kind of getting more recognition and more people watching it'll help grow that. But, at the same time, I don't mind it being a little lowkey when you're walking around and stuff.

Ultimately, having players like Matthews on shows such as thing will bring more awareness to the NHL, along with the widely successful Frozen Frenzy broadcast on ESPN, and if the league is smart, they would look to capitalize on all this momentum.

As Read on The Hockey News - Maple Leafs Roster is Set for Opening Night What Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews Had to Say on the Pat McAfee Show