Speaking publicly for the first time since long-time teammate Mitch Marner was traded, Toronto Maple Leafs all-star forward Auston Matthews shared his thoughts on the departure of his now former teammate. Matthews said the team will “obviously miss” Marner’s presence and referred to him as a great friend and teammate, per a video by TSN.
“That’s kind of the business side of it that is tough. Obviously, I wish him nothing but the best. But we’ll just keep it moving,” Matthews said.
Marner was acquired by the Vegas Golden Knights in a sign-and-trade deal, resulting in an eight-year, $96MM deal. And while Marner’s time in Toronto ended on a sour note, there’s no denying that his departure leaves a significant void in the Leafs’ lineup from an offensive production standpoint. Just last season, Marner produced a career-high 102 points. While Matthews alluded to an abundance of changes being made to the lineup, he noted his excitement for the team’s chances heading into the 2025-26 season.
“Obviously, a lot of changes, but I’m excited about the guys we’ve brought in. I know we have a great team and a great group of guys in the locker room. So, I’m looking forward to getting started. Guys are going to have to take some steps, but it’s a good problem to have,” he said.
The Leafs added a series of depth players this offseason. They added forward Nicholas Roy in the Marner deal. In separate trades, they acquired forwards Dakota Joshua and Matias Maccelli for draft picks, as well as defenseman Henry Thrun from the Sharks in exchange for forward Ryan Reaves. In free agency, the team signed forwards Travis Boyd, Benoit-Olivier Groulx, Vinni Lettieri, and Michael Pezzetta, as well as defenseman Dakota Mermis. The team also signed forward Matthew Knies to a six-year, $46.5MM extension. Matthews said his mindset is the same heading into this season as in seasons past, noting that despite new faces on the roster, the goal of the franchise will remain the same.
Matthews also gave a brief but reassuring update on his health heading into training camp, responding simply, ’Good,’ when asked how he was feeling. He missed 15 games last season and revealed in May that he had been dealing with a “mystery” ailment that affected him throughout both the regular season and playoffs. His quick response now appears to put to rest any lingering concerns about the issue carrying over into the new season.