The Maple Leafs have had a player hit the milestone in each of the last two games, with defenseman Jake McCabe reaching it on Saturday against Tampa Bay.
As Toronto Maple Leafs winger Mitch Marner skated in his 600th NHL regular season game on Monday night against the Chicago Blackhawks, teammate Auston Matthews couldn’t resist having some fun with his teammate’s career milestone postgame.
Mitch hitting the 600-game milestone, what are your thoughts on that?
“Almost a full pension,” Matthews quipped.
Marner became the second Maple Leaf in as many games to reach the milestone, with defenseman Jake McCabe achieving it on Saturday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Drafted fourth overall in 2015, Marner has become a cornerstone of the team, reaching the milestone in his ninth season.
What’s Behind the ‘Pension’ Joke?
Matthews’ remark is rooted in a real benefit NHL players earn through the league’s collective bargaining agreement (CBA). According to the CBA, NHL players amass pension benefits based on the number of games and seasons played. A player with 10 full seasons (approximately 820 credited games) is entitled to the maximum annual pension.
Marner’s 600-game mark brings him closer to the threshold for a “full pension,” though he would still need roughly three more complete seasons to reach the maximum credited service. The NHL’s pension system also distributes benefits for players with fewer than 10 years of credited service, ensuring that every participant has a ‘non-forfeitable’ right to their accrued benefits.
Matthews, who entered the league in 2016 as the number one overall pick, is approaching the 600-game milestone himself, appearing in 577 regular season games as of December 2. It’ll be interesting to see if his joke resurfaces 23 games from now when the spotlight turns to him.
Regardless, it’s a testament to the durability and consistency of both players, who have been pillars in the Maple Leafs' lineup since their respective debuts. In 600 regular season games, Marner has 203 goals, 469 assists, and 672 points. In the 2024-25 campaign, Marner leads the team in assists (24) and points (33).