Toronto Maple Leafs: Comparing Matthews/Marner With Toews/Kane

Dec 13, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (34) and center Mitch Marner (16) step onto the ice before the start of their game against the San Jose Sharks at Air Canada Centre. The Sharks beat the Maple Leafs 3-2 in the shootout. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports /

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Dec 28, 2016; Sunrise, FL, USA; Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (34) talks with center Mitch Marner (16) before a game against the Florida Panthers at BB&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports /

Potential Payoff

The way the Leafs rebuild is going, Toronto can be headed in the same direction that Chicago was when they first started. In my earlier article, I compared the length of Chicago’s rebuild with Toronto’s. They both started about 10 years apart from each other.

In my comparison, there was no doubt that Toews and Kane starting in the same year had a lot to do with accelerating the rebuild. Well now Toronto has their own dominant pair similar to the two, who may actually be poised to finish better. The Leafs rebuild is picking up, and its going really fast.

Now I can’t predict the future, but I sure can guess. Marner and Matthews are looking like guaranteed Calder nominees, and its more likely that one of the two take home the prize over others like Laine or Murray.

Much like Toews and Kane, they are looking to turn into top 10 players in the future of this league, and it’s only a matter of time before they are the league’s next dominant duo.

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