NHL analyst highlights Maple Leafs' "double whammy" caused by Mitch Marner's exit, drastically affecting Auston Matthews' numbers

TSN hockey analyst Craig Button recently broke down the Toronto Maple Leafs' challenging season, pinpointing a "double whammy" as the primary reason for Auston Matthews' dip in production.

Speaking on SportsCenter with host Jay Onrait, Button argued that Matthews' struggles aren't just a solo act- they're a direct fallout from losing Mitch Marner over the summer and his own nagging injuries.

Over eight seasons together, Marner's playmaking inflated Matthews' assists totals and created prime scoring chances. Without him, the Leafs' captain is centering lines with less dynamic options.

"When you lose a player like [Mitch] Marner, you don't just lose what Marner brought to you; you also lose what Marner gave to [AustoN] Matthews. That's a double whammy," Button said.

He added:

"Auston Matthews is still a very dangerous goal scorer, [but] let's not bury the lede...no Mitch Marner. So, when you think about the brilliance of Auston Matthews' finishing, you've got the brilliance of the setup guy [Mitch Marner Too," he added.

Matthews has accumulated 20 points through 12 goals and eight assists in 24 games this season.

Auston Matthews speaks on the USA-Canada rivalry ahead of Olympics

Auston Matthews is one of the first six players named to Team USA’s roster for the Milan Olympics. He recently spoke about the rivalry between the United States and Canada.

Speaking to reporters, the Leafs captain reflected on the intensity of the matchup, fueled by recent events like the 4 Nations Face Off.

"I think the rivalry with Canada was, or is, you know, pretty, pretty bitter, I'd say," Matthews said. "Obviously, a lot of prideful countries, respectively. And, you know, I see it firsthand every day playing in Toronto. "

"And so, it's definitely great for the game. Obviously, they have a great team. There's a lot of really good countries, a lot of great teams in their respective countries. But I definitely think that rivalry between USA and Canada is very special."

Matthews and the Leafs return to the ice against the San Jose Sharks at Scotiabank Arena on Thursday.