The Great Debate: Can Mitch Marner Thrive Without Auston Matthews?

If you’re a Toronto Maple Leafs fan this season and have been watching the team, you know that Mitch Marner has risen to the occasion when Auston Matthews has been out of the lineup. You gotta wonder if he might be a better player when Matthews is out of the lineup than when he’s in the lineup. And that’s saying something because the two have the kind of chemistry that doesn’t come along very often.

While this idea might initially seem surprising, there are a few key points to consider that could make the case that Marner is not only thriving without Matthews but is also better when Matthews isn’t in the lineup. He’s freer. He doesn’t look to pass first. He takes the lead rather than feeding the big dog.

But, even if there’s a case to be made that Marner can thrive and prosper without Matthews, is this a long-term trend or a short-term spark driven by unique circumstances?

Marner’s Elevated Role Without Matthews

With Matthews sidelined, Marner has been given more responsibility on the ice, particularly in offensive situations. Instead of playing second fiddle to the team’s leading goal scorer, Marner has played a more prominent role as a scorer himself. This has resulted in a noticeable increase in his shot totals and a more aggressive approach to creating offense.

Without Matthews, Marner has had to carry more of the offensive burden. That fact seems to have pushed him to play more confidently. He’s making quicker decisions to shoot the puck and creating opportunities where he may have previously looked to pass. Marner is now the focal point of the Maple Leafs’ offense in many ways. It’s worked. But it has also forced him to take on more of the scoring responsibilities he might have deferred when Matthews was in the lineup.

Does This Make Marner Better Without Matthews?

While it might appear that Marner is thriving in Matthews’ absence, it’s important to wonder if this makes him a better player overall. It’s possible that Marner feels more liberated without the need to share the spotlight. With Matthews on the ice, Marner’s role often revolves around supporting Matthews’ goal scoring. That’s especially true on the power play. This can limit Marner’s offensive freedom. When Matthews is with him, Marner is not always the first option for generating scoring chances.

With Matthews away, Marner takes on more of a leadership role, particularly when the team needs someone to step up. Without Matthews, that’s him. This shift in responsibility might be what Marner needs to tap into his full potential as an offensive force.

While Marner’s increased production without Matthews is hugely important, it’s worth questioning whether this success can be sustained. Matthews’ presence on the ice creates space for other players, including Marner. Fewer weapons mean the opposition might focus more on shutting down Marner.

In addition, Marner’s surge may be more of a short-term boost. He might be driven by the need to step up in Matthews’ absence. Once Matthews returns, Marner might return to his playmaking presence. He’d defer more to his superstar teammate. It remains to be seen whether Marner can maintain this high production level once the lineup returns to its usual form.

The Question: Can Marner Keep This Up?

While Marner’s recent performance without Matthews is impressive, it isn’t clear if he could replicate this consistently throughout an entire season. He might be better in certain situations without Matthews, but his play could be elevated even further when paired with him.

Ultimately, it might be the case that Marner’s ideal role is somewhere in between—able to step up and be the focal point when needed but still benefitting from Matthews’ presence to create more offensive opportunities. Whether Marner can sustain this level of play once Matthews is back could be the key to his evolution as one of the league’s top players.