Toronto Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews has won the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy after his 69-goal regular-season effort.
The trophy is annually awarded to the NHL’s top goal scorer, and Matthews has previously won the trophy twice — in 2022 and 2021.
Matthews finished 12 goals ahead of runner-up Sam Reinhart of the Florida Panthers.
Matthews’ 69 goals this season mark the most in a single season since the start of salary-cap era, which began in 2005-06.
It’s also the most goals scored in any NHL season since Mario Lemieux scored the same amount in 1995-96 — the year before Matthews was born.
If the 26-year-old had reached 70 goals on the season, he would have become just the eighth player in NHL history to do so.
In total, Matthews recorded 107 points (with 38 assists) in 81 games this season.
The forward has also already been nominated by the Maple Leafs for the NHL’s King Clancy Memorial Trophy, which is awarded based on leadership qualities on and off the ice and noteworthy humanitarian contributions.
Matthews will look to continue his offensive tear when the Maple Leafs take on the Boston Bruins during Round 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Catch Game 1 of the series Saturday, starting at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+.