Nylander played with Matthews plenty early in his career and was his most common right winger for his first three years. The implication that Willy can't "fill a void" is truly bizarre, especially considering it's not like Auston had a great year last year playing with Mitch.
I'll assume Nylander "was his most common right winger for his first three years" is accurate.
I have not checked that. It is probably right.
Matthews didn't win a Rocket Richard in those first three seasons. Willy didn't fill that void.
In fact the 40 goal high water mark for Matthews with Willy was his lowest goal tally after Matthews hooked up with Marner who helped him get three Rocket Richard Trophies until 2024-25 when Matthews had the chronic, mysterious upper body injury.
Matthews +/- with Nylander in total for those 3 seasons was +16 (+5.3 per season)
Matthews +/- in every single season after that exceeded +16 until his injury in 2024-25 (+24.4 per season)
I don't think that is a fluke either. I think his right winger had something to do with that. You only needed one properly functioning eyeball to see it.
"I do think it's their goal to keep Marner. I don't have any doubt. I think they know Marner and Matthews want to play with each other," Friedman said. "I believe that's been a conversation in the past where Matthews has made it very clear he wants to play with Marner and Marner has made it clear that he's happy to do it." - Elliotte Friedman
Herman alleged this "This is the same player that told his draft team he must play with Matthews (allegedly) and PP1 and PK1 or shit will go down."
What you have quoted above doesn't substantiate Herman's allegation. In fact, it contradicts it just like the quote I posted made by Marner contradicted it. And it supports the quote I posted about Matthews indicating he wanted to play with Marner.
Marner saying he's "happy to do it" is not a threat like "or shit will go down". Marner is just going along with whatever.
Matthews said he wanted it but conceded that he doesn't make that decision so that wasn't a threat either.
This may be as much about Matthews as Marner but the fact is they were stapled together most of the time after 2018 whether their play warranted it or not. You would be foolish to think there wasn't at least some appeasement of the stars. I think we all remember Sheldon Keefe walking back certain comments. I'm sure he did that out of the goodness of his heart.
The public record I've seen so far was Marner was repeatedly ambivalent about playing with anyone in particular.
The public record I've seen so far was Matthews wanted to play with Marner but conceded it was not his decision.
The statistical records generally indicate that Matthews scored more goals, won Rocket Richards, Hart & Ted Lindsay and had a better +/- when he played with Marner.
The statistics and trophies along with Matthews expressed wishes, Marner's expressed ambivalence and Leafs coaches approval as demonstrated by what lines they put them on and the ice times they granted generally suggest it was warranted.
EDIT: Every year from 2019-20 to 2024-25, when they joined up, Matthews & Marner received Selke votes with each being a finalist one year. I don't think Nylander has ever received a Selke vote.
