NHL Insider Believes Mitch Marner's Possible Exit Could Impact Auston Matthews

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Antonio Losada | Last updated May 28, 2025 9:03 AM ET

The Toronto Maple Leafs face a critical offseason with key roster decisions looming, and analyst Ray Ferraro believes the outcome could reshape the careers of the team's biggest stars.

Speaking on TSN’s "OverDrive" on Monday, Ferraro addressed the growing uncertainty around Mitch Marner’s future and its potential impact on team captain Auston Matthews.

Marner is weeks away from hitting unrestricted free agency with his six-year, $65.41 million deal expiring on July 1.

The superstar winger has yet to confirm his intentions and repeatedly said during locker cleanout day that the Game 7 loss to Florida was still "too fresh" to think ahead.

Marner on his future: "Always loved my time here. I've loved being here. Like I said to you guys the other night, I've been so grateful. Haven’t processed anything yet. It's still so fresh and losing sucks." #Leafs
— Terry Koshan (@koshtorontosun) May 20, 2025

Ferraro acknowledged Marner's 102-point regular season by questioning the team's outlook if the Leafs lose him to free agency, as much trouble as they have had in advancing into deeper stages of the postseason with Marner in tow.

"If Marner goes somewhere else," Ferraro said, "for (Auston) Matthews... whatever was going on with him this year, that didn't look right for him."

The analyst said Marner’s departure would affect more than just the lineup, including Matthews, although that might be for the betterment of the team.

"Maybe a change is best for all—a new linemate, a new look at things," Ferraro said. "But it's hard to walk away from 100 points."

Matthews’ production dropped from 69 goals last year to just 33 this season. The captain scored only three times in 13 playoff games.

"He didn't skate the same," Ferarro said. "He didn't have the same pace to his game. The numbers weren't the same, just didn't look right."

Ferraro pointed to that as a sign that change may be necessary, if only by bringing different teammates to try and bring Matthews' production back to his past standards.

"Eventually, you don't win," Ferraro said. "And if the goal is to win, at some point there's going to be a change."

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

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