Auston Matthews touches on Mitch Marner's departure, looks ahead to Maple Leafs season

Article content

Life goes on.

That’s how Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews is taking stock of the team’s future without Mitch Marner, whose next game in Toronto won’t be for another five months, when the Vegas Golden Knights visit Scotiabank Arena on Jan. 23.

“We’ll miss him,” Matthews said on Wednesday night at the CAA Centre in Brampton. “He’s a great friend, great teammate. That’s kind of the business side of it that’s tough, but obviously I wish him nothing but the best. We’ll just keep it moving.”

Matthews missed 15 games during the 2024-25 regular season with an undisclosed injury and when the playoffs were done, he acknowledged it was a physically tough year, but that he would be 100% for the start of the 2025-26 season. He said on Wednesday that his health was “good.”

In his first media availability since the Leafs had exit interviews at the end of May following a second-round loss to the Florida Panthers, Matthews spoke before taking part in Hockey Night in Brampton, an annual charity game held to raise funds for a second hospital in the city. Ground was broken this past spring.

Two years ago, John Tavares was the marquee Leafs attraction; last year, Marner, dealt to Vegas in a sign-and-trade at the end of June, and Max Domi took part in the game, hosted each August by Brampton mayor Patrick Brown.

Among those playing on Wednesday night were Leafs defenceman Chris Tanev, Owen Power of the Buffalo Sabres and Dylan Strome of the Washington Capitals, former Leafs Gary Roberts, Owen Nolan, Curtis Joseph and Mark Giordano and Toronto Sceptres captain Blayre Turnbull.

“A lot of guys have came through and played in this,” Matthews said.

“It’s special just to give back to the community, coming here, you’re meeting so many NHL alumni, different guys from all over the place. It’s cool to do it for a good cause and have some fun too.”

There’s no replacing Marner, of course, but Leafs general manager Brad Treliving has done what he can to re-shape the forward group, adding Matias Maccelli, Nicholas Roy, Dakota Joshua and Michael Pezzetta. More moves are possible, with David Kampf and/or Calle Jarnkrok potentially being traded.

“Feeling good (about next season),” Matthews said. “A lot of changes, but excited about the guys we brought in, excited about the guys that we have. I know we have a great team and great group of guys in the locker room.

“Looking forward to getting started. Guys are going to have to take some steps, but I think that’s a good thing, a good problem to have.”

At the top of the group of players who can go to another level: Winger Matthew Knies, coming off a 29-goal season. The 22-year-old’s summer will come to an early end next week when he will join Matthews at USA Hockey’s Olympic orientation camp in Plymouth, Mich.

“It’s well-deserved,” Matthews said of the invitation extended to Knies. “He’s a great player, and he’s still coming into his own, he’s only to get better. He’s really looking forward to the opportunity.”

In less than a month, the Leafs will open training camp before starting their six-game preseason schedule in Ottawa on Sept. 21 in the build-up toward coach Craig Berube’s second season behind the bench.

“Every year going into it, you want to be focused, want to be ready to compete from the get-go with camp and everything,” Matthews said. “We had a lot of changes, but I don’t think the mindset really changes. You have to be focused, have to be willing to do whatever it takes to win. It’s a hard league to win in. For us, it’s not getting too far ahead of ourselves, staying in the moment.”

tkoshan@postmedia.com

X: @koshtorontosun

RECOMMENDED VIDEO

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

Try refreshing your browser, or
tap here to see other videos from our team.

Play Video