from Mike Zeisberger of the NHL's website,

Auston Matthews said he always wanted to remain with the Toronto Maple Leafs, despite hearing doubters question his sincerity.

Two games into this NHL season, his actions have spoken louder than his words.

Backing up the lucrative contract he signed in the offseason to stay put, the Maple Leafs forward is off to an historic start with back-to-back hat tricks, an accomplishment only one player -- Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin (2017-18) -- has managed to do in the past century.

Who knows what he'll do for an encore as part of one of the NHL's early-season marquee matchups Monday when the Maple Leafs host Connor Bedard and the Chicago Blackhawks (7 p.m. ET; SN; TVAS, NBCSCH).

Is that proof enough for you that the 26-year-old is feeling right at home being in the spotlight in perhaps the most hockey-crazed market in the NHL?

It should.

Because this is exactly where he wants to be.

"I love it here," he told NHL.com in a 1-on-1 interview earlier this week. "I kept saying it over and over again whenever I was asked about my future. I'm not sure why some people didn't believe me."

For some reason there were those that didn't. As such, there was no shortage of conspiracy theories floating around him this offseason, especially with him set to become an unrestricted free agent after this season.

continued