Auston Matthews is the best player on the Leafs, and that never needs to be explained to anyone. Everyone knows that Matthews will lead our Top 25 ranking until he ages out. Courtesy of his birthdate, he’ll be back next year, number one unanimously, once again.
And yet, Matthews has never had a more uncertain future. He will begin his sixth season with new expectations, new levels he will be expected to achieve, and more he has to find to bring to the team. So you won the Richard? So what? Anything less than even more glory is going to get someone fired.