Former Maple Leafs forward Rick Vaive set the all-time franchise record for single-season goals with 54 during the 1981-82 season. His record has stood for almost 40 years and though a few have come close, none have yet surpassed this total, which begs the question; will anyone score 55 to break Vaive's record?
While we do not yet know the answer to that question, we do know that one Leaf is currently on pace to accomplish that feat this season. When Auston Matthews recorded his 32nd, 33rd and 34th goals of the season on January 14th against the visiting New Jersey Devils, he put himself on a 57-goal pace for the season.
Matthews sits just 16 goals away from becoming only the 4th Leaf in history to record 50 goals in a single season, but if he can manage 21 through the club's final 33 games, the Arizona native will cement himself as the best pure goalscorer in franchise history.
At the recent Blue & White gala at the Royal York, Matthews and Vaive had a chance to get together to discuss the scoring record, during which time a humble Matthews received some words of encouragement from the Leafs legend.
“I said to him, ‘Are you going to break the record?' ” Vaive told the Toronto Sun on Monday. “I told him it was 55 goals (to set a new mark). He said, ‘Oh boy, I have a lot of work to do, then.'
“I told him to just keep playing the way he is playing and he will likely do it.”
Vaive believes in the young sniper's abilities and though he may not exactly be excited at the prospect of being dethroned, he is also very realistic about the likelihood that Matthews will break the longstanding record at some point over the next few season - if he doesn't get it done in 2019-20.
“He is a great player — he has great vision, he has an unbelievable shot, great release,” Vaive said. “Nobody wants their records broken, let's face it. I'm not going to pretend I'm cheering for him to break the record, but if he does, that would be great.
“It's the old cliche — records are meant to be broken, and it has been 38 years. With the ability he has, I can't imagine in the next three or four years he would not be able to surpass it, if he doesn't do it this year.”
When Vaive set the record in 1982, it was an exciting and memorable night, but one situation didn't sit quite right with the Leafs great. Owner Harold Ballard never sought out Vaive to congratulate him. Though Vaive does not own the team, he does intent to do things a little bit differently.
“Hopefully, I would be at the game,” Vaive said, “and I would be the first guy to congratulate him and have a picture taken with him and say, ‘Hey, great job.' Because I know how hard it is.”
Time will tell if Matthews can indeed vault ahead of Vaive, but all signs point toward him making history, as long as he remains healthy.
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