Mitch Marner’s departure from Toronto looms large as Auston Matthews speaks for the first time since the trade chatter intensified. Matthews praised Marner as a friend and teammate, stressing that the move is part of hockey’s business side, yet he remains optimistic about the Leafs’ chances. He highlighted the job for Toronto now—new teammates, a growing core, and Matthew Knies taking a meaningful step forward. Toronto’s leadership has shifted, but Matthews insists the focus is on staying grounded, pushing through training camp, and taking it one day at a time.

The sign-and-trade to Vegas, a blockbuster eight-year, $96 million deal for Marner, reshapes the Leafs’ offensive landscape and tests Toronto’s depth. Matthews remains confident in the new roster, while Knies, coming off a career-best 58-point season, has drawn praise from his captain and earned an Olympic orientation camp invite, signaling a brighter horizon for Leafs fans and fantasy managers.

Knies’ development is central to Toronto’s immediate future, with Matthews noting he’s still “coming into his own” and poised to grow with more responsibility. As camp approaches, the Leafs will lean on their leadership core, blend in new faces, and aim to recapture playoff momentum. In Vegas, Marner adds a dynamic forward to a deep Knights lineup, potentially elevating the VGK top-six and complicating fantasy projections across the rivalry.