Friedman's Call: Matthews’ Calm Doesn’t Mean He Doesn’t Care
Auston Matthews isn’t the loudest star in the room. He doesn’t throw himself into every interview; he doesn’t give fiery speeches, and if you’re used to dramatic personalities, it can sometimes read as detachment. But NHL insider Elliotte Friedman set the record straight recently: Matthews cares. He wants to win. And if you’re judging him by the decibel level of his emotions, you’re missing the point.
Matthews and Sundin: Two Quiet Leaders, Says Friedman.
Friedman made the comparison that makes a lot of sense: Mats Sundin. Sundin, the Maple Leafs’ captain for much of the late ‘90s and early 2000s, was famously mild-mannered. He wasn’t the guy to yell in the locker room or make headlines with bold proclamations. And yet, year after year, he was dogged about winning, about taking the team as far as it could go. Matthews is almost identical in that way. Calm publicly, but fiercely competitive behind the scenes.
What Friedman also highlighted is how management keeps Matthews in the loop. With the Maple Leafs weighing potential roster moves—talks that might involve trading some veterans or moving pieces around—they’ve made sure their captain knows the direction the team might go. This isn’t about questioning Matthews’ loyalty. It’s about alignment, about making sure the player at the center of the franchise understands the path forward and is comfortable with it. Transparency is often underrated in pro sports, but here it shows respect for Matthews’ leadership and role.
Both Matthews and Sundin Have Had Long Tenures in Toronto.
The parallels with Sundin go beyond demeanour. Both players have had long tenures in Toronto, both have faced the weight of expectations that sometimes feel larger than life, and both have carried themselves with a sense of professionalism that has made them quietly influential in the locker room. Sundin’s Maple Leafs never won a Stanley Cup, and Matthews is still chasing his first, but that doesn’t diminish their shared approach: lead through example, maintain poise, and let the game speak for itself.
So, after ten years in Toronto, Matthews’ commitment shouldn’t even be up for debate. He shows up, he works, and he pushes for wins. That calm exterior, that reserved public face, is just his style—it’s not a lack of heart. Like Sundin, he’s a captain who leads steadily, persistently, and quietly, the kind of player who sets the tone for everyone else without making a scene. And if you’ve ever wondered whether Matthews wants to succeed in Toronto, Friedman’s comments make it clear: there’s never really been any doubt.