Maple Leafs Are Finally Building Around Auston Matthews
For the past several seasons, it often felt like the Toronto Maple Leafs were trying to solve every problem with one answer: Auston Matthews. If they needed more goals, they expected Matthews to score them. Need to win a big game? Matthews was expected to lead the way. Need to cover for weaknesses elsewhere in the lineup? Somehow, Matthews was expected to do that too.
That's a heavy load for any player, even one of the best in the world.
Chayka took Matthews and Nylander seriously.
What's struck me about John Chayka's first offseason isn't just the players he's added. It appears the Maple Leafs have listened and changed the question they're asking. William Nylander and Matthews both asked for more speed and puck movement. Chayka seemed to hear that message and address it.
Instead of saying, "How do we get more out of Matthews?" the leadership group now seems to be asking, "What kind of team allows Auston Matthews to be at his best?" Those are two different questions.
When you add more speed to the team, Matthews doesn't have to skate through three defenders every shift. When your bottom six can kill penalties, forecheck, and spend time in the offensive zone, Matthews doesn't have to carry quite so much of the game. When your defence can move the puck efficiently, his line starts more shifts attacking instead of digging itself out of trouble.
Related: Nick Robertson and the Reality of a Fresh Start.
The Maple Leafs’ core hasn't changed.
The Maple Leafs’ best players haven’t changed their names. Matthews, Nylander, and the rest of the core are still the players this team will rely on. The best players are still expected to be the best players. That never changes. Matthews will always be judged by goals, leadership, and playoff success. That's simply what comes with being a franchise player. But great organizations don't ask their stars to perform miracles every night. They build environments where their stars can do what they already do exceptionally well.
Think about the great teams around the league over the years. They weren't great because one superstar dragged everyone else along. They were great because every part of the roster made life a little easier for the top player. That's what I think I see happening in Toronto.
The new additions aren't necessarily bigger names than the players who left. Some fans might even wonder whether they're upgrades at all. But together they seem to fit a plan. More speed. Better puck movement. Clearer roles. More support throughout the lineup.
The approach to roster building has changed for the Maple Leafs.
If that's really the philosophy behind this offseason, then the Maple Leafs may have made their biggest improvement without ever announcing it. They aren't asking Matthews to carry the team anymore. They're trying to build a team that's finally capable of carrying him once in a while.