Shocking report reveals Mitch Marner is the Leafs MVP, not Auston Matthews: what this means for the future

The stats don't like: the Leafs struggle more when Mitch Marner is out of the lineup, as opposed to Auston Matthews. What does this all mean for the future?

A surprising stat underlines the different impact of two key Toronto Maple Leafs forwards out of the lineup.

Without Auston Matthews, the Leafs are 43-20-2 in 65 games. Without Mitch Marner, they're a robust 21-17-5 in 43 games. That means the team obviously struggles more without Marner, which really underlines the importance of him.

Both players are widely regarded as elite talents, with Matthews more often seen as a franchise cornerstone, and the NHL's best other than Connor McDavid.

Meanwhile, despite any accolades, Marner receives near-constant criticism from Toronto's die-hard Leafs fans who say he does not work hard enough in his defensive contributions.

Advanced stats tell a different story. Marner is an elite defender and was even a Selke Trophy nominee in 2023, a rare occurrence for a winger, showcasing his two-way value.

Though Marner has sometimes faced criticism for consistency in the playoffs, his contributions in the postseason were huge in the Leafs' 2022-23 first-round breakthrough, snapping a 19-year drought.

Marner's career playoff stats, 11 goals, and 39 assists in 57 games, are comparable to Matthews', 23 goals, and 25 assists in 55 games.

Both, however, have struggled in Game 7 scenarios, combining for a total of 5 points and a minus-7 rating across five elimination games.

Criticism by the fans notwithstanding, the Leafs organization seem to miss Marner more than most, which illustrates how integral he is to any successful future the team might have.

This begs a few questions about his long-term value and the importance of securing him in a future contract extension.

It will be worth keeping an eye on how the Leafs manage his contract negotiations going forward, and whether they will take these stats into consideration.

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