Auston Matthews tunes out trade rumours while chasing Maple Leafs goal record

It might be the most muted major record chase in Maple Leaf history.

Auston Matthews is about to pass Mats Sundin for the top spot on the franchise goals list, in a season the current captain’s health is once more under scrutiny, with the Leafs hit-and-miss for a playoff spot, the coming Olympics and Matthews’ long-term future ripe for social media trade tripe and hypothetical hype.

Sitting at 416 goals, four behind Sundin’s mark as this week opens, Matthews appears to be downplaying the mark around the 416 area code as it gets closer.

“It’s exciting, but I try not to put too much thought into it,” Matthews told us in his most recent media availability. “I’ll take each game as it comes and just go from there.”

The Leafs don’t plan to have Sundin fly in from Sweden when the record falls, owing to the unpredictability of exactly when and where it might happen, home or away.

Coincidentally, Sundin passed Darryl Sittler’s previous record of 389 in 2007-08, a season Leafs also missed the playoffs and when Sundin awkwardly concluded his Toronto days without agreeing to a trade or re-signing.

Until his four points in two dominant games since Christmas, there were fringe insinuations — if Matthews chose to listen — that he was in decline or looking at an exit strategy if the Leafs fell out of the race. Never mind that general manager Brad Treliving dismissed the trade question outright a few days ago, saying the Leafs still consider themselves playoff contenders in a tight Eastern Conference.

Even if the Leafs were pressing for change, Matthews still controls the board with a no-movement clause and two full years to play out his $13.25-million salary.

When the record falls, it will fulfill one of the prophecies from his first-overall selection in 2016 and his dramatic four-goal debut against Ottawa that year. In blazing a red-light trail this far, Matthews has won three Rocket Richard scoring trophies and the Hart and Lindsay as league and player-voted MVP.

“I think that first game in Ottawa was a good hint what was coming,” alternate captain Morgan Rielly quipped on Tuesday. “We were talking about this the other night, that it’ll take him less games to break it (662 to date, Sundin played 981) which is an impressive 10-year pace.

“He’s just been a fantastic player for a long time. (Most goals on a team) is one of the most prestigious things you can have and there are lots of records on his horizon he’s going to get.”

It’s questionable whether or not Matthews will get a shot at closing in on the record on Tuesday night against the New Jersey Devils. He will be a game-time decision having suffered a lower-body injury after blocking a shot during Sunday’s game against the Detroit Red Wings.

Matthews stands fifth in club points at 754 to Sundin’s 987, leads in even-strength goals, plus-minus and the modern category of expected goals. A year and a half ago, he replaced John Tavares as captain with the latter’s blessing.

“It will be really special when Auston gets there,” Tavares said of the record. “His impact as a player and leader has been phenomenal.”

There have been around 1,100 players to play for the Toronto franchise since 1917 and to stand first among goals is no ordinary feat.

“For him to do this, at his age (28), I hope he gets there, hope it’s not weighing on him and he can go about his business,” Rielly added.

The distraction might affect teammates more than Matthews, eager to see him get the record or be part of the milestone play. With the lines as constituted, Bobby McMann has a chance as his left winger, Max Domi on the right.

“He’s a good guy to play with whether he’s setting records or playing in a regular game on a Tuesday night,” McMann said. “It’s incredible, I’m super-excited for him. He’ll get there and hopefully I get to watch it first-hand.”

lhornby@postmedia.com

X: @sunmedia.com