Toronto Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews is gearing up for another season, but not everyone thinks it will be smooth sailing. One NHL insider suggested that without longtime linemate Mitch Marner, defenses might play Matthews differently and not in a way that’s gonna go down well.
Can Auston Matthews Thrive Without Mitch Marner?
No one doubts Matthews’ ability. He’s already got a Hart Trophy and back-to-back 60-goal campaigns on his résumé. The real question is how teams adjust now that Marner isn’t around to share puck-handling duties.
Marner’s speed and creativity forced defenders to split their focus. Without him, Matthews could be carrying the puck a lot more, which also means he’ll be easier to hit.
“You can legally hit him. The league’s not like it was in the ’80s, when everybody was ragdolling everybody else to the ice. But when you have the puck, you are allowed to have more contact,” NHL analyst Elliotte Friedman shared on his 32 Thoughts podcast.
“It gives people more of a license to hit them or make contact with them,” he added. That extra workload could add up over the course of the year.
Matthews says he’s fully healthy, which is good news after nagging injuries last season. But the bigger issue is whether he can keep that up while absorbing more pressure. It’s something Toronto’s coaching staff will be monitoring closely.
Maple Leafs Searching for the Right Fit
Head coach Craig Berube has been testing different line combinations in preseason. Matthew Knies looks like the player most likely to step in and carry the puck, but finding chemistry won’t happen overnight. The Matthews-Marner pairing was built on years of timing and trust. That kind of connection takes time and, most of all, patience.
Toronto knows Matthews can adjust. He’s proven he can score in different situations, whether it’s blasting one-timers or fighting through traffic. Still, without Marner as his safety net, Matthews may find himself taking more punishment and facing heavier defensive attention than before.
Media questions about Marner haven’t gone away, but Matthews set a clear deadline. He told reporters they have “two more weeks” before he clamps down on Marner Mania.
It was a veteran move, shutting down distractions before the season begins.
Expectations are, as always, sky-high in Toronto. Matthews is still the cornerstone, and how he adjusts without Marner could shape the Leafs’ entire offensive identity. If he handles the extra pressure, Toronto’s attack will remain among the league’s best.
If defenses wear him down, though, the Leafs will need their supporting cast to step up in a hurry. Either way, the spotlight will be fixed on Matthews from the first puck drop this fall.
