"The Toronto Maple Leafs and captain Auston Matthews head into a unique sort of season. It's the first official season sans the official Core Four. What that means is that the Maple Leafs are officially Auston Matthews's team. There is no one else behind him exerting any sort of pressure on his leadership position. Mitch Marner is gone and John Tavares has retreated into a supporting role."
"That's why the 2025-26 season could be the one that determines Auston Matthews's legacy in Toronto. A season that at least meets expectations will be good enough to cement Matthews among the Leafs' greatest captains. But if the Leafs fail to make any sort of headway, his reputation could face irreparable damage. It may seem like a harsh statement, but there's really no other way around it. The Maple Leafs are solely in Matthews' hands."
The Toronto Maple Leafs enter the 2025-26 season without the Core Four, leaving Auston Matthews as the clear team leader. Mitch Marner's departure and John Tavares's supporting role place primary responsibility on Matthews's shoulders. GM Brad Treliving altered the lineup to emphasize hard checking, strong defense, and opportunistic offense modeled after the Florida Panthers. Matthews's production could range from an elite 60-goal, 100-point campaign to a modest 30-goal, 80-point output. A healthy, Hart Trophy-caliber season from Matthews could spark a deep playoff run, while a decline could significantly damage his legacy.
Read at Editor In Leaf
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