Time Maple Leafs Split Up Matthew & Marner – for Their Sakes

How time changes things. Six weeks ago, I wrote a post for The Hockey Writers suggesting that it might be time to split up Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner as a way to help the team become more successful during the postseason. In that post, I used the example of the Edmonton Oilers splitting up Connor McDavid and Leon Drasaitl as a way to balance their lines.

Related: Maple Leafs Need to Split Up Matthews & Marner

That decision was successful. It put the Oilers put on a postseason rush, ending when they met the eventual Stanley Cup-winning Colorado Avalanche. My thinking in early September was that Matthews and Marner were the most successful scorers (both in terms of goals and assists) on the team. Therefore, it would be beneficial for them to transfer to other lines as a way to get those other lines going.

This Season Is Different from Last Season

Now the Maple Leafs are seven games into the regular season. What a difference. The vaunted first line of Matthews, Marner, and partner Michael Bunting has been playing well enough – given the analytics. However, here we sit headed into game eight against the San Jose Sharks on Thursday night. Matthews has one goal; Marner also has one goal. Neither of these players is at a point-a-game pace. 

Last season, both Matthews and Marner were clearly well beyond that pace. In Matthews’ 73 games last season, he scored 106 points. Marner played 72 games and totaled 97 points. 

Related: Is Nick Robertson the Maple Leafs’ Second-Line Answer?

This Season, the Scoring Belongs to the Second Line

This season, the team’s second line of center John Tavares, William Nylander, and current line partner Nick Robertson is all averaging a point a game. Tavares has eight points in seven games; Nylander has seven in seven games; and, Robertson has played three games and has scored two goals and added an assist.

Now it’s time to split up Matthews and Marner as a way to allow those players on the second line to help get their first-line teammates out of the skids and onto the scoresheet. Funny how things have changed. What a surprise. Who would have expected it?

Nick Kypreos and Justin Bourne Weigh in on Matthews and Marner

In their recent podcast, Nick Kypreos (Kyper) and Justin Bourne (Bourne) also debated whether seven games was too early for Maple Leafs to be concerned about offensive production from their top first-line players. They agree that there’s some trouble with the Maple Leafs. They also suggest (and discuss) whether it’s time to mix up the lines and try Matthews and Marner on separate lines.

In this video, Kyper noted that it was time to mix things up to see if someone could get Matthews and Marner going. He was specific about the team’s mistake of playing Marner so much – up to 27 minutes during the last game.

On the other hand, Bourne (like me) points toward the postseason. When something isn’t working during the playoffs – and Maple Leafs’ fans know that too well – you need another option.

Will Matthews and Marner Be Split Up?

So what will it be? The same or a change?

As noted, the Maple Leafs play the San Jose Sharks tomorrow night. Will the lineups be the same as they’ve been? We’ll see.

Related: THE GOOD, THE BAD, & THE UGLY IN MAPLE LEAFS’ 3-1 LOSS TO VEGAS