Most goals in a season: Where Auston Matthews' 60 goals rank in NHL and Maple Leafs history

Ovechkin. Stamkos. And now, Matthews. 

Those three are the only players to score 60 goals in a single NHL season in the 21st century. 

Matthews accomplished the feat the only way he knows how ⁠— by sniping an absolute rocket of a shot bar-down. 

Welcome to the 60 goal scorer club, Auston Matthews. pic.twitter.com/Ct23JTp3P4

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 27, 2022

That 60-goal celly 👏

🎥: @MapleLeafs pic.twitter.com/S81gXudRke

— Hockey Night in Canada (@hockeynight) April 27, 2022

The Maple Leafs star is only the 21st player in NHL history to reach 60 goals in a season, a rarity in today's game. Stamkos was the last player to do so and that came back in 2012. 

Matthews is the first Maple Leafs player to ever hit the 60-goal mark after becoming the first player in franchise history to hit 100 points earlier this month. In this historic 2021-22 season that has seen Matthews already etch himself in Toronto franchise history, he's quickly taking over as the game's most dominant goal scorer. 

He's in line to win the Rocket Richard Trophy quite easily, holding a five-goal lead heading into the final three days of the regular season. If he hangs on to be the NHL's leading goal scorer, he'll earn back-to-back honors in that category. Matthews is also at the forefront of the Hart Trophy race, which is a lot tighter and will be left up to voters' discretion. 

Regardless, we're looking at the best single regular season in Maple Leafs franchise history from the 24-year-old. He's well on his way to becoming the greatest Leaf of all time. 

MORE: Who leads the NHL in points right now? Tracking the race for the 2022 Art Ross Trophy

Who has scored 60 goals in an NHL season?

It's been a rarity for players to score 60 goals in recent seasons, however, during the '70s, '80s and '90s, it wasn't all that uncommon. 

While 21 different players have hit the threshold, it has happened 40 times in NHL history. Players such as Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux have multiple 60-goal seasons on their resume.

Who has the most goals in a single season in Maple Leafs history?

Matthews' sensational 2021-22 campaign continues to get better and better. He broke Rick Vaive's single-season goal record earlier this month by potting his 55th goal. 

Now, he's extending his lead for that record each time he finds the back of the net. 

Who has the most career goals in Maple Leafs history?

He might only be 24 years old, but Matthews has rapidly shot up the all-time goals list in Maple Leafs franchise history. 

Matthews has 259 goals so far in his six seasons in the NHL. He's already cracked the top 10, passing Bob Pulford this year for ninth place. 

He's still 31 goals away from Wendel Clark for eighth, so we'll have to wait until at least next season to see Matthews' placement on the all-time list crawl any further.