The Mitch Marner decision for the Toronto Maple Leafs could have an impact on the rest of the roster. For someone like Auston Matthews, perhaps he’s tired of the direction the Maple Leafs are headed and wants to win elsewhere.
Matthews, one of the better players in the NHL, didn’t have the postseason he was looking to have again. He posted 11 points in 13 games and was a non-factor against the Florida Panthers.
And according to TSN’s Ray Ferraro, Marner’s decision could prompt Matthews to think about a different situation.
“If Marner goes somewhere else,” Ferraro said, “for (Auston) Matthews… whatever was going on with him this year, that didn’t look right for him.”
“Maybe a change is best for all—a new linemate, a new look at things,” Ferraro said. “But it’s hard to walk away from 100 points.”
Matthews is coming off a season in which he posted 78 points and has had over 105 in two of the past four years.
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Losing him and Marner in the same offseason would be a total disaster for Toronto, but these are all decisions the two will have to make.
Marner is a free agent and has a real chance of leaving. Matthews, however, could stay in Toronto and continue his career, which began during the 2016-17 season.
But if he wants to win, these are all factors that have to be considered. It wouldn’t be ideal for Toronto, but players want to win, and the Maple Leafs haven’t done that recently.
“Eventually, you don’t win,” Ferraro said. “And if the goal is to win, at some point there’s going to be a change.”
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