Matthews and Nylander get blunt NHL reality check before Leafs camp

Both Auston Matthews and William Nylander got a dose of reality as The Athletic's recent player tier rankings show they aren't in the same spot they once were.

As the Toronto Maple Leafs head into the regular season, there is a lot of expectations for not only the entirety of the team, but for two of their top stars - Auston Matthews and William Nylander. Matthews needs to prove he can be that elite goal-scoring threat and show that the past two years weren't an indication of the player we can expect going forward.

Nylander has to continue to prove he can be one of the best players in the entire world, but also do so on a more consistent basis while also adding in a bit more balance in his repertoire.

Matthews is still in the franchise tier, but recent production has pushed him out of the MVP group

But it seems like the rest of the NHL world is going to take a wait and see approach to how these two are going to perform this season.

The Athletic recently posted a tier ranking of players in the NHL, with Matthews being a step below MVP. Ranked as a 'Franchise' tier player, one unnamed executive pointed to Matthews' decline as part of the reason he's placed lower on the list:

There's been a slight downward tick (to his game), not having Marner certainly hurt him...Matthews is in the right spot.

While you can't point solely to Marner not being there as the reason why Matthews declined, but it certainly did play a big part. Marner's absence changed the environment around Matthews, but injuries and a career-low shooting percentage were also major parts of his drop. The ranking reflects that uncertainty more than any single explanation.

Last season saw Matthews score only 27 goals in 60 regular season games, and only 33 goals in 2024-25. While 33 goals isn't a terrible number by any stretch, it's certainly a lower number than what we've come to expect from the captain.

Not to mention the past two seasons he has dealt with various injuries including to his backhand his wrist, both of which would affect his ability to shoot, not to mention his MCL tear suffered at the hands of Radko Gudas last season.

But it's not that Matthews has zero faith from the rest of the NHL, as clearly there's a belief that he can still be an elite player - he just needs to show that he's pushed past all his previous roadblocks.

Nylander's problem isn't convincing NHL executives he has superstar talent

For Nylander, who placed in the 'All-Star' tier, executives still see elite, top-end talent in Nylander, but the frustration comes from how high his ceiling is compared with the stretches where that level does not show up consistently:

He's in the top five or so players in the league when he really plays his best. His skating, edge work and ability to hold onto the puck is so freaking good. He's so good, and that's why you get so mad at him sometimes when you watch him.

There's never been an issue with Nylander's talent, but rather his effort level which is where the frustration stems from. You know that he can be one of the world's best if only he added just a bit more energy and effort to his shifts.

He posted yet another 30-goal, 75-point season last year, while leading the Maple Leafs in points and assists, finishing only one goal behind John Tavares for the team lead.

It's time that Nylander convinces not only the fans, but his critics that he can not only handle a high-level offensive workload but that he's got a lot more of that 'dog' in him. If he can prove to the rest of the league that his talent can be enhanced through harder work and a more proactive attitude then there won't be any doubt as to who he can be.

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