Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews is clearly vibing with Justin Bieber’s latest musical surprise. Following the unexpected drop of Bieber’s 21-track album titled Swag, Matthews shared two Instagram stories over the weekend that sent Leafs fans and Beliebers buzzing alike.
Auston Matthews responds to Justin Bieber’s surprise ‘Swag’ album
In the first story, Auston Matthews posted Bieber’s track “YUKON” from the album, proudly displaying the black-and-white cover art bearing the title SWAG along with a parental advisory label. Tagging the pop star directly, Matthews added a fire heart emoji — a not-so-subtle endorsement from the NHL star.He doubled down on his support in a second story, sharing “WAY IT IS,” a collaboration between Bieber and rapper Gunna. The Leafs forward kept it short and expressive, simply writing: “Yep.”While some fans may find the exchange casual, it’s yet another chapter in the deep friendship and mutual admiration between Matthews and Bieber. Their bond has long gone beyond Instagram tags and emoji reactions. Bieber, a die-hard Maple Leafs fan, has not only attended countless games but has even collaborated with the team on special jersey designs in past seasons.Just last month, Bieber showed off his Maple Leafs pride in a heartwarming Instagram post featuring his 10-month-old son, Jack Blues Bieber, dressed in a No. 34 Auston Matthews jersey. The Leafs’ official account responded with three blue heart emojis, marking a full-circle moment of support between the player and the pop icon.During the Leafs’ most recent playoff run, Bieber and his wife Hailey were spotted in VIP seats behind the team’s bench in Game 7 against the Florida Panthers. Though the game ended in a devastating 6-1 loss, Bieber posted a tribute that reminded fans of his unwavering support:“I don’t remember a time in my life when I haven’t been obsessed with the leafsssss,” he wrote. “This year we made it farther than we have in so long and I’m happy about that. I can be patient cuz I know this is the team to do it.”Also Read: Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin gear up to challenge another untouchable Wayne Gretzky record in 2025-26 NHL seasonEven after Canadian rapper Drake jokingly blamed the “Bieber curse” for the team’s playoff exit, it’s clear the loyalty between Bieber and the Leafs—especially with Auston Matthews—is as strong as ever. And with Swag on the speakers, the Maple Leafs’ locker room just might have found its newest soundtrack.