Auston Matthews’ Next Linemate Could Decide the Maple Leafs’ Season

There’s been a lot of discussion about whether the Toronto Mple Leafs have properly replaced Mitch Marner. And that’s probably the biggest question hanging over this team heading into the season. The conversation started with the idea that Jack Roslovic might step into that top-line role alongside Auston Matthews. That’s where things get interesting because the debate isn’t really whether Roslovic is as good as Marner. He isn’t.

The better question is whether Roslovic can be good enough in that role if the rest of the lineup is built properly around him. Those are two very different questions.

The Maple Leafs Need More Than Scoring to Replace Marner

The mistake people make when talking about Marner’s departure is looking only at the offensive numbers. He scored points and helped drive the offence, but his impact went far beyond the scoresheet. What the team lost was much more than a player who could put up 90 points.

Marner was the guy who carried the puck through the neutral zone, created controlled zone entries, found Auston Matthews in scoring areas, helped the power play, killed penalties, and drove the transition game. That’s a lot of different jobs rolled into one player.

Replacing that skill set was never going to happen by simply finding another winger who can score 25 goals. That’s why the Roslovic conversation is so interesting.

Roslovic Brings Some of the Things the Maple Leafs Have Needed

He has speed, and he’s willing to shoot. He can also attack off the rush. He won’t be a carbon copy of Marner because that player doesn’t exist. The key is finding out whether his strengths can work beside Matthews.

One thing we have learned over the years is that Matthews doesn’t necessarily need another superstar beside him. He needs someone who complements his game. The right winger doesn’t have to carry the offence the way Matthews does. He needs to create space, make plays, and give Matthews chances to be the best goal scorer in the world.

What makes the Patrick Kane idea interesting is that, on paper, it makes a lot of sense. Kane beside Matthews is the kind of hockey idea that gets fans excited. Elite hands, incredible hockey sense, one of the best passers of his generation, and a player who has spent his entire career creating offence.

Should the Maple Leafs Try to Grab Kane While They Have a Window?

If the Maple Leafs believe they are truly in a win-now window, adding a future Hall of Famer on a short-term deal is exactly the type of gamble teams make. But there is a reason it would be a gamble. Kane is now 37 years old. The question isn’t whether he can still make special plays. He obviously can.

The question is whether he can handle the daily grind of an 82-game NHL season, survive the physical demands of playoff hockey, and contribute in all areas of the game. The Maple Leafs have spent years trying to become a more complete team. They have talked about being harder to play against and better defensively. Kane would add skill, but he doesn’t necessarily solve those other problems.

Matthews Needs to Be Matthews Again

The bigger issue, though, might be Matthews himself. The Maple Leafs need Matthews back to being the dominant offensive force fans know he can be. Part of that is giving him the right support. Great players still need help. Boston built around Patrice Bergeron. Tampa built around Steven Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov. Colorado built around Nathan MacKinnon.

You can’t simply tell your best player to figure everything out because he’s your best player. Matthews needs someone who can consistently create offence with him. Last season, the problem wasn’t that the team tried different players. The problem was they didn’t have enough quality options.

The Maple Leafs Don’t Necessarily Need Kane

And that’s probably the real takeaway for Matthews’ line. The Maple Leafs don’t necessarily need Kane. But they do need a top-six winger who can make Matthews better. If that player is Kane, then great. If it’s someone younger, faster, and better defensively, that might actually be the better fit. Could that eventually be a younger player like Gavin McKenna? We don’t know yet.

But one thing is clear. Replacing Marner was always going to be the biggest challenge of this offseason. The Maple Leafs can improve the defence, strengthen the bottom six, and add depth. But if they don’t find someone with the chemistry to play alongside Matthews, every other improvement becomes a little less meaningful.