The Toronto Maple Leafs have had a less-than-stellar start to their 2025-2026 campaign. Now, Leafs captain Auston Matthews is being called out for his team’s struggles—by a coach from another team.
The season has not gone the way the Maple Leafs had hoped. Currently sitting in 14th place in the Eastern Conference with a 6-5-1 record through their first 12 games, Craig Berube and his squad have underperformed so far. One area of concern is Auston Matthews.
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Nine points in 12 games
While John Tavares, Matthew Knies, and William Nylander are averaging over a point per game, captain Auston Matthews has tallied just nine points in 12 games—six goals and three assists. Now, Toronto Sun analyst Steve Simmons has criticized Matthews’ performance, noting that other teams have noticed it as well.
Auston Matthews called out
In his Sunday column, Simmons compares Matthews to other notable Toronto athletes, such as Vladimir Guerrero Jr., the Blue Jays first baseman who helped lead his team to the World Series.
“He has gone to a place where Auston Matthews and William Nylander have yet to go,” Simmons writes, pointing out that Matthews ranks 30th in NHL goals since Craig Berube became the Leafs’ coach in 2024.
”Something is off”
Simmons also notes that a coach from another NHL team spoke to him about the Leafs in general, and Matthews in particular.
“An NHL coach on the struggling Matthews: ‘Something is off with 34. Something is off with that team. They’re playing a strange game right now—far different than last season,’” Simmons quotes the unnamed coach.
Next, the Maple Leafs will face the Pittsburgh Penguins at home.
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