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