Having Matthews back makes for serious fun
Entire dressing room, both young and older players alike, is singing in the same key
When John Tavares says Maple Leafs young guns Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner have been “better than I thought,” he isn’t just reflecting on their high level of play.
Tavares, a serious soul for the most part in his first season in Toronto, is also talking about much fun they are to be around off the ice, the source of what’s been something of a culture change for the team. While veterans such as Tavares provide a calming influence, younger players have given the group energy and personality.
“Yeah, I think so,” Matthews said Thursday, the day after scoring twice and adding an assist against the San Jose Sharks in his return from a shoulder injury.
“Just meeting (Tavares) on different occasions, he’s a focused guy. We have a young team and we like to have fun, so everyone can go out and relax. John came here from a different situation in New York, so maybe being here, I think, has been good for him.”
Matthews’ return after missing a month helped the Leafs tie the Buffalo Sabres for first overall in the NHL standings heading into Thursday night’s slate. His sense of style, though, never left — and the same goes for Marner.
The two aren’t afraid to show up sport- ing a few edgy fashion twists, stylish hats or cutting-edge suits, and wear them confidently. Marner’s carpool karaoke video with veteran Patrick Marleau went viral.
In the Leafs’ dressing room, Marner can sometimes be heard singing away behind the doors to the players’ lounge.
It’s a sign of young players comfortable in their own skin, sure, but also a twist on the hockey tradition of veterans always setting the tone.
The 21-year-old Matthews, though, doesn’t see the age dynamic as a thing of the past. For example, Marner and Matthews both stressed how Marleau and veteran defenceman Ron Hainsey helped the Leafs overcome a tendency to blow late-game leads.
Matthews and the rest of his teammates call the 39-year-old Marleau “GOAT” — as in Greatest Of All Time. Marleau’s commitment to preparation and calm demeanour help to give the roster a solid foundation.
“We have been referring to him as the GOAT since last year,” Matthews said. “He’s easy to play with, he works hard, he has a big body and he protects the puck well. He helps everyone in our room.”
While Matthews played just less than 15 minutes on Wednesday, his offence picked up where he left off. Coach Mike Babcock had him playing on a line with Kasperi Kapanen and Connor Brown, but used Marleau in place of Brown at Thursday’s practice — reassembling the unit Matthews had skated with before his injury.
“I feel good today,” Matthews said. “It was nice to get back out there, get the legs moving again. Just get going and get ready for Saturday (in Minnesota).”
After Thursday’s practice, Matthews and Marner also joined Laura Stacey and Natalie Spooner on the ice for a video shoot to promote the Canadian Women’s Hockey League.