Auston Matthews’ Dream Teammate? None Other Than Tiger Woods
Multi-sport crossovers are always fun to imagine—think Usain Bolt trying his hand at professional football. While most of these ideas remain in the realm of fantasy, sometimes athletes enjoy indulging in the thought. With the Toronto Maple Leafs performing well this season, captain Auston Matthews recently took a moment to participate in a lighthearted discussion about such a crossover.
During a casual interview with Jonny Lazarus of Bleacher Report Open Ice, Matthews was asked, “If you could add a non-hockey player to the Leafs for a night, who would it be?” His answer? Tiger Woods—without hesitation. Interestingly, Matthews wasn’t the only NHL star to think of Woods. In a similar 2023 interview, Sidney Crosby also named the golf legend as his pick, citing Woods’ dominance, work ethic, and mindset as qualities that would translate well to hockey.
The Auston Matthews x @justinbieber karaoke collab is gonna go triple platinum 🎙️
(w/ @JLazzy23) pic.twitter.com/SjGKg9oerl
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) March 15, 2025
Lazarus humorously suggested that Woods could be a weapon on the power play, and Crosby agreed, stating, “He’s got the hands; I think he can work the half-wall too.” Given that the NHL’s hardest recorded shot is 106 mph (by Tage Thompson), and Woods’ peak ball speed exceeded 180 mph, there’s logic to the idea of Woods being a force on the ice.
Woods himself has expressed admiration for hockey, once stating, “I love the sport. I love watching it, but I don’t like watching it on TV. In person, it’s absolutely incredible… TV doesn’t do justice to that.” Given his appreciation for the sport, it’s no surprise that NHL stars view him as an ideal addition to their teams.
Concerns Over Matthews’ Performance and Injury
While the Maple Leafs are having a strong season, Matthews has faced challenges, with a noticeable dip in form. Reports suggest he may be dealing with an injury, a concern that has been lingering throughout the year.
So far this season, Matthews has recorded 23 goals and 33 assists, a significant drop compared to last year, when he had already scored 42 goals by this point. Observers have noted that he seems less dominant, fueling speculation that an undisclosed injury is affecting his performance.
TSN host Bryan Hayes weighed in on the situation, offering some direct advice for Matthews: “If he’s injured, then stop playing. Get out of the lineup and take care of yourself. You’ve got about five weeks to figure this out. If you’re going to play, like he has been, you better play better than this.”
Hayes also pointed out that Matthews, the highest-paid player in the NHL and the Leafs’ captain, “looks uncomfortable in tight-checking games and isn’t using his body as much.”
Adding to the speculation, Matthews missed a morning skate ahead of the Leafs’ game against the Ottawa Senators but is still expected to play. With the Stanley Cup Playoffs approaching, the big question remains: Can Matthews push through his struggles and regain top form in time?
What do you think—should Matthews sit out and recover, or push through for the playoffs?