Maple Leafs legend Darryl Sittler ready to step aside as Auston Matthews is set to pass him in scoring
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Darryl Sittler’s thumbs must be getting tired of late from sending so many congratulatory texts to Maple Leafs who’ve begun passing his 1970s points’ milestones.
The former skipper should have a nice note in mind this week if current captain Auston Matthews eclipses him for a most significant stat, second place in franchise goals. That could come as early as Wednesday here against the Minnesota Wild, with Sittler at 389, Matthews one behind.
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Maple Leafs legend Darryl Sittler ready to step aside as Auston Matthews is set to pass him in scoring Back to video
And before the end of the regular season, Mitch Marner should close the 29-assist gap between he and Sittler for third place. As Matthews, Marner and William Nylander get close to 10 years’ Leaf service, they’ve moved into the top five or 10 in many offensive categories.
“I follow their numbers a little bit and if I see a stat on TV that they’ve passed me, I send a text,” Sittler said Monday in a phone interview. “Lots of those are happening now. I see Mitch just became the fastest Leaf to 700 points, to beat my record (Marner needed 622 games to Sittler’s 666).
“I don’t always know right when they happen, but a lot of people mentioned Auston coming up on me and Mats Sundin in goals.”
Matthews would need another 30 goals beyond Sittler to pass Sundin for the 108-year-old franchise’s title. But as Sittler was a home–grown star dominant before the Blue Jays–Raptors–TFC era and remains quite visible around town as a club ambassador, his lowered ranking will take some getting used to.
Just know the 74-year-old Sittler is quite at peace with the march of time.
“It’s awesome what Auston, Mitch and the guys are doing. Hey, we had our day, we all had an opportunity for successful careers in Toronto.
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“I feel the same way now that Syl Apps or Dave Keon must have when I passed them, or when Mats passed me (en route to the Swede’s 987 career points). Dougie Gilmour broke a couple of mine, too, (including most points in a season with 127).”
No one should be surprised that decades–old records are falling in a year when Alex Ovechkin could very likely claim a mark most thought untouchable — Wayne Gretzky’s 897 goals. Ovie was 19 shy before his Washington Capitals played in Calgary on Tuesday.
“First of all, it’s incredible what Wayne did to get where he was, and how he did it,” said Sittler, whose playing career overlapped Gretzky in the early 1980s. “You look at (three) 200–point seasons.
“Then you wondered about Ovechkin and his age (39), if he could keep going. But like the old saying, ‘records are made to be broken’.”
In mentioning The Great One and the Great Eight, Sittler noted their fame also came from channeling their individual gifts into team success and Stanley Cups, four in Gretzky’s case. It’s a mountain that Sittler hopes this generation of Leafs can scale where others were turned back since 1967.
“Auston, Mitch, Willy, John Tavares, Morgan Rielly, they all know it’s not all about goals, assists and points in the regular season. They want to win a championship.”
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Sittler made previous plans to be out of town Wednesday, but says he’ll tune in to see if Matthews gets 390. For the home fans’ sake, Sittler would like to see it happen at Scotiabank Arena before a four-game road trip.
St. Jacob’s, Ont., native Sittler was reminded he’ll still be the highest Canadian-born Leaf in goals behind a Swede and American.
“I just think that shows how much the game has spread around the world. More players coming over, that’s what makes the NHL the best league in the world. I don’t view guys like Matthews, Gretzky and Ovechkin in terms of nationality, I look at them as outstanding athletes.”
TURNING OVER NEW LEAF RECORDS
MOST GOALS
Mats Sundin 420
Darryl Sittler 389
Auston Matthews 388
Dave Keon 365
Ron Ellis 332
MOST ASSISTS
Borje Salming 620
Mats Sundin 567
Darryl Sittler 527
Mitch Marner 498
Tomas Kaberle 437
MOST POINTS
Mats Sundin 987
Darryl Sittler 916
Dave Keon 858
Borje Salming 768
George Armstrong 713
Mitch Marner 707
Auston Matthews 687
Ron Ellis 640
Frank Mahovlich 597
William Nylander 578
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