Toronto Maple Leafs: Auston Matthews vs Mitch Marner

Matthews or Marner? We’re six games into the Toronto Maple Leafs 2016/2017 season. So let’s ask the question.

Which Toronto Maple Leafs star is better?

Now, I know what most people are going to say: “You can’t compare them!” or “Obviously Matthews!” or even “This is stupid!” But think about it. The Leafs currently have six rookies playing for them. The two highest profile, #34, Auston Matthews, and #16, Mitch Marner, have broken out. So what we’re going to look at is who is actually more valuable to the team.

Let’s start with Matthews.

Within six games, he has managed to impress beyond the fan’s expectations. He currently has 6 goals, four assists, and 10 points. This makes him the top scorer for the entire NHL as well as the top point earner for the Maple Leafs. (Connor McDavid holding the most points in the NHL with 11).

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Now, unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know that Matthews scored four goals in his first NHL game. If you check the history books you’ll see that that’s a new record.

Matthews’ next goal came in game four of the season against Minnesota. The most recent was two nights ago in a losing effort (a miserable one mind you) against Tampa.

It seems that after game one, however, Matthews is slowing down. Maybe he was told to take it easy by Coach Babcock, or maybe he’s been sick.

People can speculate how they want but in the end, Matthews is proving in a very short amount of time that he has what it takes to be a star. Through his consistency during plays, to his ability to control the puck and his opponents all at the same time, Auston Matthews is definitely going to be a valuable asset to the future of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Next we look at Marner.

While 6’0″, 170lbs, isn’t necessarily small, but in a sport like hockey at the NHL level, it can be considered “smaller”. Take that into account with this kid and yet he somehow manages to play like one of the “big guys”.

He’s proving without a shadow of a doubt that he can hang and he’s showing no signs of slowing down. He manages to get from one end of the ice to the other like some type of superhero, all while holding the puck and setting up plays.

Unfortunately, it seems like his downfall is poor placement in the line ups. Instead of having him on the 3rd line with Bozak and Hyman, they should try him on the 2nd line with Matthews and JVR.

This, however, would require a total line adjustment that would include a 1st line of Nylander, Kadri, and Brown, while sending Komarov down to the 3rd line.

None the less, Marner has still managed to score one goal and provide two assists within the first six games. If he can be placed on a line up that allows him to set goals up both for himself and the other players on the team, he can easily become a top 3 scorer and point earner for the team.

So at this very moment it appears as if Matthews has the slight advantage on Marner. The question is though, will it always be this way?

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A few different scenarios can happen, either Matthews can stay ahead , Marner can play catch up and eventually become better than Matthews or, both players can even out and carry on through the rest of the season tying each other for points.

What do you think? Who will be better long term? Splitting hairs? Hey, at least we’re having this conversation.