'Maybe Even Better Than That': Maple Leafs' William Nylander Believes Auston Matthews' Level This Season Could Be Higher Than His 70-Goal Chase

Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews has had an amazing start to the season. He's tied for second in the NHL in goals (eight) and points (18) after 11 games.

As it stands, Matthews is on pace to reach the 60-goal mark for the third time in his NHL career, but not since his 69-goal campaign in 2023-24.

William Nylander, who has been a teammate of Matthews since he was drafted first overall in 2016, said that Matthews' level this season has been very high and might be the highest he's ever seen so far.

"Yeah, probably, maybe even better than that at that point," Nylander said of Matthews potentially being back to the level of chasing 70 goals. "So we'll see. I mean, I think 70 goals is crazy, but I mean, just the way he's playing is about the same probably."

Matthews has found the scoresheet in all but three games this year, and was even named the NHL's first start of the week in the second week of the 2026-27 regular season.

"The game just comes to you, and everything just kind of happens," Nylander said of Matthews' play recently. "I think he's been working hard and skating great out there. So, I mean, the game's just coming."

Defenseman Darren Raddysh, who is experiencing Matthews' influence on the ice for the first time as a teammate this season, has noticed the captain's extra jump this year compared to the previous two.

"Auston's been amazing," Raddysh said after Thursday's morning skate. "I think from the day he came back from Arizona, I think you know he's been flying, and just the way he's skating out there and hard on the stick, making plays."

Raddysh, former member of the Tampa Bay Lightning, remembers what it was like trying to stop Matthews when he was chasing 70 goals in the last game of that campaign.

"He's back to the Auston I remember when I first came into the league, and we're going up against him when he was trying to get 70 that game, last game of the season," the defenseman recalled. "It was all hands on deck to try and stop him for that one. But yeah, that's vintage Auston, and I'm glad to see he's back to his old self."

Similar to Raddysh's assessment of Matthews being dialled in and ready to dominate for the coming season back in training camp, head coach Jim Hiller realizes how consistent the 29-year-old has been early in the year.

"I'll bring it back to the first day of camp," Hiller said. "Like he's just been so consistent. That's what I've noticed. Now, to start the season, he played really well. Didn't score a lot of goals, and it didn't change. He just kept skating and skating. He's going to score, we know that he's a world-class goal scorer. I don't think that he's doing anything different since the first day he showed up. It's just all been really good. So when you do those things, it's just a matter of time when you have that type of talent."

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