The Toronto Maple Leafs core-four has been known to perform its worst during the team's biggest games, but what if that changes at the Four Nations Face-Off?
The Auston Matthews Era has been one of the most exciting, yet frustrating times as a Toronto Maple Leafs fan. Matthews, as well as John Tavares, William Nylander and Mitch Marner delivered countless moments, individual awards, yet when the games matter the most, he doesn't deliver.
There have been plenty of players in NHL history who have never won a Stanley Cup, but they've delivered in the biggest moments in the sport, in International play. Whether it's Carey Price, Roberto Luongo, Joe Thornton or Jerome Iginla, all of those players have represented Team Canada and are future Hall of Famers, despite never winning a championship.
As it currently stands, Marner, Matthews and Nylander are all in that same club, however they don't have the international success yet. Sure, they have been part of World Championship or World Junior team's, but never at the highest level with professionals. (This isn't their fault, as there hasn't been a best-on-best NHL player international tournament in nearly a decade).
That all changes this week with the Four Nations Face-Off as we're finally going to see a true Team Canada, Team USA, Team Finland and Team Sweden.
So with Matthews, Marner and Nylander set to play for their country this week, what happens if they actually perform? If Matthews leads the tournament in goals and leads Team USA to victory, will that change the narrative of him as a player?
Leafs Core-Four Needs to Have Impressive Tournament
The same thing applies to Marner and Nylander. If they are the best players on their team and are true reasons why thier team suceeds, will the public look at them differently and say that they're "clutch" or will this tournament not matter?
Personally, if those three players deliver, it would give me a ton of optimism for April. However, if they fall apart again and aren't delivering each night, it would make me very worried.
When the games matter the most, you need your best players to deliver, and although you could argue that Marner, Matthews and Nylander might not be the best player on their team, they need to show the world that they can be. If they can't up their game and become the best player on their respective roster, then how are they supposed to win a Stanley Cup?
As much as this tournament may not mean anything to the general fan, it definitely means something to the players. If Marner, Matthews and Nylander falter again in the biggest games, then I'm going to be extremely disapointed, so I hope that one of those players is named the MVP by tournament end.
We will have to wait and see, but let's hope these players shine on the biggest stage.