It is the first time a Toronto Maple Leaf has won the award since Britt Selby (1965-66) during the Original Six era. Matthews was just the second rookie to hit 40 goals since the year 2000, joined only by Alex Ovechkin (52 goals in 2005-06), and only the fourth to achieve the feat since 1990 (Teemu Selanne, Ovechkin and Eric Lindros are the other three).
Matthews staved off inordinately stiff competition in what was the Year of the Rookie in Toronto and the NHL at large: Patrik Laine scored 36 goals, Zach Werenski put up 47 points as a 19-year-old defenceman, and a pair of his own teammates both enjoyed Calder-calibre seasons with 61 points apiece in Mitch Marner and William Nylander.