Maple Leafs may have found their new Zach Hyman to pair with Auston Matthews

"Ever since Zach Hyman left to sign a very reasonable contract with the Edmonton Oilers in 2021, the Toronto Maple Leafs have been on the lookout for his replacement. Trying to a find a winger that has some of the best detail work in the entire league while also being a netfront nuisance to pose as a scoring threat. Well, they may have potentially found someone who could do something similar. Auston Matthews is almost stapled to Matthew Knies as they formed a very strong duo for the 2024-25 season, with Mitch Marner on the other side. Of course, with Marner gone the natural inclination is to find another smaller playmaker to form that same sort of dynamic for the top Leafs line -- but what if they go all-in on some more physicality?"

"Sportsnet's Luke Fox also poses the question and even hypothesizes that head coach Craig Berube could want exactly that. "Pass-first Max Domi has enjoyed stretches of success with Matthews. Newcomer Matias Maccelli, too, can thrive in the O-zone. Alternatively, Berube could want a peek at straight-line wingers Bobby McMann (who hit 20 goals) or Joshua (who once hit 18) up top to see if they can disrupt and create space for the stars," Fox wrote."

"This new all-in formation for the top line could certainly work and while McMann and Joshua aren't perfect representations of what Hyman brings -- since we think that is what Berube is essentially looking for -- they do fill in the holes that need to be filled. Matthew Knies does a lot of similar things that Hyman did, but not everything. That is where someone especially like Joshua can come in and take that role, bash some bodies, and score some goals."

Since Zach Hyman left in 2021 to sign with Edmonton, Toronto has sought a replacement who offers detail work and net-front presence. Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies formed a strong duo in 2024-25, previously flanked by Mitch Marner. With Marner gone, Toronto might prioritize physical, straight-line wingers rather than a smaller playmaker. Potential fits include Max Domi, Matias Maccelli, Bobby McMann, and Dakota Joshua. McMann and Joshua can add physicality, disrupt defenders, create space for the stars, and provide secondary scoring while complementing Knies. Hyman's 54-goal season is unlikely to be replicated, but new wingers can aim to approximate those offensive contributions.

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