If anyone out there still thinks Auston Matthews is just a goal-scoring merchant who ignores the boring parts of hockey, Mike Sullivan would like a word. And really, the fact that Matthews was able to leave such a strong impression in barely 2 weeks says it all. Fresh off coaching Team USA at the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off, Sullivan didn’t just praise Matthews — he highlighted the important qualities that Matthews possesses, that don’t quite show up on a stats page.

On March 2nd, TSN’s Mark Masters dropped the official receipt on X: “Pens coach Mike Sullivan says he was impressed with Auston Matthews’ leadership, well-rounded game, commitment to defence & work ethic at 4 Nations: ‘He knows what winning hockey is all about … I could tell early on he has an appetite to win & he knows what it takes.’” That’s not the usual “goal-scoring king” praise — it’s a recognition of Matthews’ complete game, a message Leafs fans might want to keep handy for future debates. Auston Matthews was praised for his leadership and defensive commitment.

At the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off, Matthews suited up for three games as Team USA’s captain, delivering 3 assists over the course of the tournament. No goals this time, but that’s hardly the story — his presence screamed leadership, something even the coaching staff highlighted. With Matthews wearing the ‘C’, USA leaned on him for top-line minutes and critical shifts, showing he brought more than just his offensive touch to the international stage.

In fact, Matthews played over 20 minutes per game and was directly involved in key offensive plays. But in the gold medal showdown, it was Connor McDavid’s overtime goal that sealed a 3-2 win for Canada. When asked after the game if McDavid’s goal haunted him, Matthews gave a classic deadpan response: “Sure, Kevin,” with a smile, showing exactly the kind of humor and poise you’d expect from a seasoned leader.

So, what’s up with Auston Matthews during the regular season?

The latest scrutiny Auston Matthews is receiving is for unusually low production numbers this season. Matthews, who scored one goal during the Maple Leafs’ loss in Pittsburgh 6-5, had fans become even more vocal about his struggles. It’s been a frustrating season by his standards, though that could be attributed to his injury struggles. He was, after all, unsure if his injury would be fully resolved this season.

However, things are not all bleak. That 1 goal he scored? It was his 22nd of the season and put him in second in the Maple Leafs all-time scorers list, bypassing Darryl Sittler. He now has 390 career goals and is only 30 goals short of toppling Mats Sundin to take the lead. Pretty impressive for what’s been a bit of a down season.

And even if an injury is affecting his play, Matthews’ leadership and all-around game did get some well-deserved props at the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off. As Team USA’s captain, he showed he’s got more to offer than just his goal-scoring, and all his teammates were quick to point out that fact. As Dylan Larkin said, he’s not a player you can judge by numbers alone.

But with the playoffs in sight, Auston Matthews needs to find that scoring touch. His leadership and defensive efforts are solid, but so are his offensive contributions, and it’s no stretch to say the Leafs will need it to have any chance at finally making a deep postseason run. Approved by Mike Sullivan himself, will he be able to return to his high-scoring ways this season? Let us know your take in the comments below!