"Let's go back to 2016 for a second. The Leafs had just drafted Matthews first-overall and also had Marner and William Nylander in the wings. With veterans such as James Van Riemsdyk, Tyler Bozak, Nazem Kadri and Leo Komarov supporting the roster, the team went on a magical run making the playoffs, narrowly losing in six games to the Washington Capitals."
"As the second wild-card, they had the hardest match-up against the first-place Capitals but battled every night, looking like an up-and-coming juggernaut. Of those six games, five of them went to overtime and the series easily could've flipped in Toronto's favour, had a few bounces gone their way. Matthews scored four goals, Nylander and Marner had four points each in those six games and the future was bright."
"Auston Matthews on the environment in the Mitch Marner return to Toronto game last night:"It was nice that there were some cheers for him during the video tribute... I think it was kinda done the right way... there's gonna be the boos when he's on the ice and has the puck and all...- Anna Dua (@AnnaNoelleDua) January 24, 2026 I can't think of a more ton-deaf comment than to describe a 6-3 loss while you're fighting for a playoff spot as "fun.""
The 2016 Maple Leafs featured rookie Auston Matthews alongside Mitch Marner and William Nylander and pushed the Washington Capitals to six competitive games in the playoffs. That early promise included multiple overtime battles, standout performances from Matthews, Nylander and Marner, and optimism about the team's future. A decade later, player performance and fan sentiment have deteriorated, with concerns about Nylander's playoff edge and John Tavares' declining speed. Mitch Marner's return provoked mixed reactions, and Matthews described the arena atmosphere as "fun" despite a 6-3 loss while the team fights for a playoff spot, raising questions about leadership tone and accountability.
Read at Editor In Leaf
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