Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews is no stranger to the spotlight, but this preseason, the attention swirling around him has taken an unexpected turn.

After battling through injuries and posting numbers that most NHL stars could only dream of, Matthews has found himself at the center of a heated debate—one that’s ignited fans across the league and even drawn support from his harshest critics.

The NHL’s latest player ranking has sent shockwaves through the hockey world, placing Matthews far lower than anyone anticipated and raising serious questions about how much weight is truly given to context and resilience. Is this just a simple oversight, or is there something deeper at play?

As voices from all 32 teams rally in defense of the Maple Leafs’ captain, the controversy grows, hinting at a brewing storm that could reshape how players are valued and respected in the league.

Yet, while the hockey community buzzes with outrage and speculation, Matthews himself seems unfazed, quietly preparing for a season that could silence every doubter and rewrite his legacy.

What really happened behind the scenes, and how will this bold ranking fuel his drive? The answers might surprise you—read on to discover the full story.

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews

Photo credit: Imagn Images

Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews is coming off a down year, if you can even call it that. Now, the NHL is trying to diminish his accomplishments.

Last season, Auston Matthews dealt with a lingering injury for the entire NHL season, which made it a lot more difficult for him to score goals.

Despite having 69 goals the season before, Matthews was only able to manage 33 goals in 67 games. He added another 45 assists for 78 points, proving that he can do it all.

Unfortunately, context doesn’t matter, apparently. In numerous preseason rankings, Matthews found himself in much lower positions than he was last year.

NHL gives Auston Matthews a ridiculous ranking

Case in point, the NHL recently put out its annual list of the 100 best players in the league. Going into last season, the Maple Leafs’ captain was ranked at number 3.

This makes a whole lot of sense when you consider the season he was coming off of. Unfortunately, this season, the NHL has Matthews ranked at 15.

Yes, that’s right, folks. The NHL has decided that there are 14 players in the NHL who are better than Auston Matthews. One injury-riddled season, and boom, you drop 12 spots.

This ranking seems completely off base, and we’re not the only ones who think so. Fans of all 32 teams began admonishing the NHL for its ranking, noting that Matthews is being disrespected here.

When the biggest Leafs haters start swooping in to defend Auston Matthews, you know that you have made a major mistake.

Overall, Matthews probably isn’t paying attention to any of this. Instead, he is gearing up for what could be a phenomenal bounce-back season.

If Matthews can get back to the 50 or 60-goal mark, then there is no doubt that the captain will find himself back inside the NHL’s Top 10.