“Anyone scoring a bunch of goals in their first game after being the No. 1 pick in the draft is a big deal. However, Auston Matthews’ historic debut was a win for a few entities. The NHL, the Maple Leafs (they lost the game in typical Leafs fashion but still), American hockey, hockey in general, and the league’s efforts to expand the game to places that aren’t known for being affiliated with the sport.
 
What Matthews did last night was a beautiful thing to see. It showed me where the sport is going if the old guard passes the torch. I’m not here to put any pressure on the young man. However, kids who aren’t traditionally a part of the average hockey fan demographic are watching. Seeing players like Matthews, Seth Jones, PK Subban, Josh Ho-Sang, Dustin Byfuglien, and Wayne Simmonds, along with Blake Bolden in the NWHL, shows that diversity can be beneficial for the sport.”