Is Marner’s Success a Wake-Up Call for Matthews in Toronto? – The Hockey Writers –

Mitch Marner is having the postseason of his life — and it’s raising some uncomfortable questions in the minds of Maple Leafs fans. Not only are fans in Toronto looking back on the way Marner exited the organization and if it was a mistake to let him go, but there has to be concern that Auston Matthews is watching these playoffs closely and wondering if the grass might be greener elsewhere.

Marner Has Shifted The Narrative After Leaving Toronto

Traded to the Vegas Golden Knights in a sign-and-trade last summer, Marner has looked like a completely different player since joining a new team in a different environment. The 29-year-old is currently leading the entire NHL in playoff scoring with 19 points (7 goals, 12 assists) through 14 games, including highlight-reel goals and strong two-way play. He has already shattered his previous career-high for playoff points and is thriving in a versatile role under coach John Tortorella.

In Vegas, Marner has found a new sense of freedom. He’s loose, not bogged down by the pressure to be everything for everyone. He’s away from the media scrutiny and in a fresh environment that has unlocked his game. Many observers note that escaping the intense pressure cooker of Toronto appears to have revitalized him both mentally and on the ice.

Meanwhile, in Toronto, captain Auston Matthews is at a crossroads.

With two years remaining on his four-year, $53 million contract ($13.25M AAV), Matthews has expressed uncertainty about his future with the Maple Leafs. Fans aren’t trying to run him out of town like they arguably did with Marner, but recent reports indicate that Matthews is waiting to see how new GM John Chayka reshapes the roster this summer before fully committing long-term.

After another disappointing season that ended in a playoff miss and a coaching change, the pressure is on, all while Matthews watches other teams and players close to him achieve unparalleled success.

Is Matthews Watching Marner and Wondering, ‘What If?’

Marner and Matthews formed one of the league’s most dynamic duos for years. Now, watching Marner flourish as a key contributor on a contending Vegas team — complete with deep playoff runs and spotlight moments — has to be poking and prodding at him while he tries to determine his future.

There will be no shortage of teams that make the room necessary to acquire him, many of whom will be contenders trying to find that final piece that gets them over the hump. Look at Minnesota, for example. They’re arguably one top-line center away from being a powerhouse.

Is Marner’s resurgence a preview of what Matthews could achieve elsewhere? If Matthews were to join the Wild, and Quinn Hughes, would he position himself to win? Maybe he’s wondering whether the Toronto environment is holding him back.

Matthews, still one of the NHL’s premier goal-scorers, has repeatedly said he wants to win a Stanley Cup in Toronto. For years, Marner said that too. Then things went sideways. The media and fans turned on him, and he chose to leave, even though Toronto was pegged to still be pretty good. Now, there’s uncertainty about how competitive Toronto’s roster will be. Matthews isn’t being pushed out, but he wants to win. Maybe the timelines just don’t align any longer.

Marner’s success in Vegas has become a living example that sometimes a change of scenery is exactly what a star needs to elevate their game. For Matthews, the clock is ticking on whether he believes Toronto can provide that same opportunity.