Radio personalities on First Up discuss the newfound role Auston Matthews has found himself in and liken it to superstar quarterbacks in the NFL.
With Mitch Marner gone, the focus shifts towards Auston Matthews as the leader of the team and the offense. The former MVP had a bit of a down year in 2024-25, however this is the most prime opportunity of his career to stake his claim as the alpha male.
Even though injuries derailed his season, Matthews still found a way to score 33 goals and 78 points in just 67 games, turning into a more complete player rather than just a goal-scorer.
While the Maple Leafs have been looking for Marner's replacement, there's a real possibility that they might not find one in time for opening night. In that case, it makes it even more paramount for Matthews to truly take the reigns as the team's top player.
Radio personalities Matthew Cauz and Michael DiStefano from TSN's First Up discussed his role and likened him as the quarterback of the team similar to Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs or Josh Allen from the Buffalo Bills in the NFL.
This is not a proper analogy, it's a little bit unfair to Matthews, but it's 50-60% there. Patrick Mahomes gets paid, Josh Allen gets paid, remember that wide receiver who got paid, he's gone. It's up to Auston Matthews to take whoever the wingers are and elevate them like Crosby did with Bryan Rust, that's your job now. It's not trading for someone, it's about internal development.
It is a little unfair to make such a comparison, but after nearly a decade of team-mediocrity, perhaps it's time for the former first overall pick to change his style a little bit and compliment some of his linemates like Matthew Knies, and not the other way around.
The Leafs have internal options as Matias Maccelli is expected to play a prominent role in the offense this year, Max Domi could feature alongside Matthews as well, and perhaps even Easton Cowan might get a crack somewhere down the road.
This past season Matthews did show that he does have playmaking capabilities, so it's not out of the equation. However, one thing is for certain, and that is that Matthews' role will be much different with Marner no longer a member of the Maple Leafs.
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