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NHL Analyst Puts Pressure on Maple Leafs Stars After Mitch Marner's Exit

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Antonio Losada | Last updated Jul 4, 2025 7:31 AM ET

With Mitch Marner no longer part of the Toronto Maple Leafs, expectations will only grow for Leafs centerpieces Auston Matthews and William Nylander.

NHL insider Dave Feschuk appeared on TSN's "First Up!" on Thursday and made clear both players will need to elevate their performances, urging them to deliver more than ever next season.

“They're going to need to look better than ever if this team expects to be better than ever without Mitch Marner,” Feschuk said.

Feschuk raised concerns about Matthews’ recent output and health, as well as Nylander's inconsistency and up-and-down stretches.

Matthews finished with 11 points in the postseason but struggled to consistently impact games throughout the playoffs. Nylander led Toronto with 15 postseason points but yielded a net-negative minus-3 plus/minus in 13 playoff outings.

.@dfeschuk on the Jays being tied atop the AL East, if the Marner sitaution was handled correctly by the Leafs & if the Leafs lack the clutch genehttps://t.co/k009SmklTc
— First Up (@FirstUp1050) July 3, 2025

With Marner gone, Matthews will be expected to carry more offensive responsibilities after scoring 33 goals in last year's injury-plagued regular season.

“Three goals in the playoffs, guys. I mean, that, to me, is an underplayed storyline,” Feschuk said. “He’s got four goals in his past 18 playoff games. Like, that's just not good enough for a guy who is supposed to be the world's best goal scorer.”

Moving to Nylander and what he expects from him, Feschuk challenged the winger to try and bring more consistency to his game.

The analyst acknowledged Nylander’s strong work ethic and value to the team, but said that it won't be enough without improved reliability.

“I know he's got great consummate pro qualities. He’s a hard worker. He’s a great teammate and all the rest of it,” Feschuk said. "(But) there’s disappearing acts.

“We all see and lament—that needs to stop happening if this guy wants to be the consummate pro that everybody likes to cast him as in his camp.”

Nylander scored the second-most points for the Leafs last regular season with 84, trailing only Marner's 102 and topping Matthews' 78. Nylander, however, appeared in all 82 regular-season games compared to Matthews' 67 outings.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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