Maple Leafs May Have a New Offensive Leader, and That's Good

Something interesting is happening with the Toronto Maple Leafs, and it goes beyond William Nylander’s five-point night against Colorado. For years, we’ve pretty much known where the conversation starts when we talk about the Maple Leafs’ best player. Auston Matthews scores the goals, carries the expectations, and gets measured against the league’s biggest stars. That comes with who he is and where he plays.

But what happens when somebody else starts making an equally compelling case for the spotlight? Nylander is doing just that. His two goals and three assists helped Toronto beat Colorado 6-3, while Matthews chipped in with two goals and two assists of his own. This wasn't a case of Nylander carrying the team while Matthews watched from the sidelines. Both stars delivered.

And maybe that’s the more interesting story.

The Maple Leafs Don't Have to Choose One Star.

We sometimes get ourselves tied in knots trying to decide which player is the best. We compare goals, assists, defensive play, games missed, and playoff production. Those things matter, but they can also turn a perfectly good discussion into a competition that doesn't need to exist.

Matthews is still the player we look to when we need a goal, and his two-way game gives him value beyond the scoresheet. He was named the NHL’s first star of the week today. Nylander, meanwhile, has shown that he can take over a game offensively. When he's skating, finding open ice, and making plays with confidence, he can be awfully difficult to stop. Why does one have to diminish the other?

In fact, the Maple Leafs should welcome the idea that Nylander is pushing his way into the conversation. A team with one dangerous offensive star can be easier to plan against than a team with two. If opponents have to worry about Matthews and Nylander at the same time, somebody else may find a little more room to work.

That’s especially important for a team trying to establish itself again after missing the playoffs last season.

There's a Bigger Question About Expectations for the Maple Leafs.

We also need to remember how expectations can shape the way we watch hockey. Matthews has spent years being judged against the highest possible standard. When he scores, people expect it. When he doesn't, people start asking questions. Nylander has often been viewed a little differently. We admire his skill, but there have been times when we’ve wondered whether he could deliver consistently enough to be the main offensive driver.

Performances like the one against Colorado challenge that old way of looking at things. Maybe Nylander isn't Toronto's most complete player. That doesn't mean he can't be its most dangerous offensive player on a given night, or even over a long stretch of games.

And perhaps we shouldn't be in such a hurry to settle the argument after six games. The season is young, and both players will have their ups and downs.

Maple Leafs Fans Should Celebrate Nylander’s Emergence.

For now, we can appreciate what we're seeing. Matthews remains a major part of this team's identity, and Nylander is giving the Maple Leafs another reason to believe their offence can be something special. We don't have to crown a new king to recognize that the old one could use some company.

Sometimes, the best news for a hockey team is that its biggest question isn't which star can lead the way. It's how much damage two stars can do together.