NHL: Toronto Maple Leafs at Minnesota Wild - Source: Imagn — Elliotte Friedman compares Auston Matthews-less Maple Leafs to Sidney Crosby-Evgeni Malkin dynamic (Imagn)

Elliotte Friedman compares Auston Matthews-less Maple Leafs to Sidney Crosby-Evgeni Malkin dynamic

Modified Nov 25, 2024 14:45 GMT

The Toronto Maple Leafs have not only survived the loss of Auston Matthews, but they have thrived. They've lost just once since Matthews last played on Nov. 3 in their 2-1 loss to Minnesota Wild. In that time span, they've reached the top of the Atlantic Division standings. Somehow, they seem to have improved without their captain.

Hockey insider Elliotte Friedman believes there's a reason for this, and that it's other players feeling the need and the desire to step up in his absence. He compared it to when prominent stars for the Pittsburgh Penguins' recent dynasty went down.

"It's like the whole Crosby-Malkin thing. When Crosby was out, Malkin played great. When Malkin was out, Crosby played great. I think these players, they love the challenge of, we're missing a bunch of guys, and I'm gonna carry the rest of the group. I really do think great players think like that, and they love these challenges," Friedman said on the 32 Thoughts podcast. (20:05)

When Sidney Crosby was hurt, Evgeni Malkin stepped up and lifted his team to a new level. When he was hurt, Crosby did the same. Despite the depth being tested, these teams often performed well.

That's what Friedman has seen from the Maple Leafs so far. They're without their captain and a top offensive threat, but Mitch Marner has stepped up and carried the load on offense. They've gone 7-1 in Matthews' absence.

Auston Matthews nears a return to ice

While the Toronto Maple Leafs have done well without Auston Matthews, his reinforcement should be coming soon. He's been out with a mysterious upper-body injury without a timetable, but he finally skated this weekend.

Auston Matthews is almost back on the ice (Credits: IMAGN)

He said on Saturday via NHL:

"Today was a good day to get back on the ice. It's been probably over a week since I've been on the ice, so we will take day-to-day, continue to try to progress in the ice and see how this week looks and feels. Obviously, I want to get out there. Tomorrow [is] not realistic but Wednesday [is] possible, but we will just see how the week goes."

The Leafs have a matchup with the Florida Panthers on Wednesday, and their captain could be back on the ice for that one.