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Mike Modano on the Intense Pressure Facing Auston Matthews
Mike Modano weighed in on the scrutiny Auston Matthews faces in Toronto. The Dallas Stars legend delivered a blunt assessment on the pressure Matthews carries as captain of the Maple Leafs.
Fans have heavily criticized the Maple Leafs for failing to meet expectations and for their lack of playoff success. Matthews, who is currently serving as Team USA‘s captain at the Olympics, faces constant pressure to deliver results.
Matthews entered the NHL with significant expectations as the 1st overall draft pick. His appointment as Maple Leafs captain only increased that pressure.
Modano, a former Stanley Cup champion, believes the spotlight in Toronto can overwhelm even elite players. During his appearance on TSN’s OverDrive, the Hockey Hall of Famer said the market places excessive demands on its stars.
“I don’t wish that environment, and that scrutiny up in Toronto on anybody,” Modano said. “You’re a little bit under the microscope, especially a very highly-talented kid as Auston [Matthews] is, the No. 1 pick, kind of coming in there.”
He added:
“You look to kind of resurrect the organization and kind of put them back on a trajectory to have some success in the playoffs and maybe make a run here or there.”
Mike Modano Says Auston Matthews Needs a Stronger Supporting Cast
Mike Modano also said Auston Matthews needs more help in Toronto. Fans have watched the Leafs closely and wondered how the team would respond after Mitch Marner‘s exit.
Toronto has struggled to find consist form and replace Marner’s scoring. After a slow start, Matthews turned his season around and became the franchise’s all-time leading goal scorer in the process.
Before the Olympic break, Matthews recorded 26 goals and 22 assists for 48 points in 51 games. Still, Modano pointed to depth scoring, particularly the need for an elite offensive defenseman, as an obvious need for improvement.
“[Matthews] put up some great numbers, phenomenal scoring rate that has been going on. And I think it’s just a matter of trying to find some second-hand scoring around him, some depth,” Modano told TSN’s OverDrive. “It’s a luxury to have Quinn Hughes for [Kirill] Kaprizov and [Cale] Makar feeding [Nathan] MacKinnon coming up the ice.”
He added:
“I think it’d be nice for [Matthews] to have someone that could kind of free him up. keep the skate in and open that game up for him offensively.”
Modano Praises Matthews’ On-Ice Production
Modano also praised Matthews’ on-ice production and said he believes center has not yet reached his peak. Matthews, 27, remains in his prime and could still produce several high-scoring seasons.
Despite Toronto’s playoff struggles, Modano said public opinion could change quickly. He noted that postseason success, particularly reaching at least the Conference Finals, would change the narrative.
“Productively, [Matthews has] been phenomenal. I think it’s just a matter of you start getting graded on playoffs and how deep you go, and how many you win,” Modano told TSN’s OverDrive. “That’s a tough measuring stick in Toronto for him.”
He added:
“I think he still has, obviously, ton of upside, and he’s got some pressure. But, he just needs a some love around him to kind of make it easy for him.”
Giancarlo Aulino Giancarlo Aulino is sports writer who covers UFC for Heavy.com. He began writing for Heavy in 2025 after providing MMA coverage for Sportskeeda. Giancarlo is an experienced journalist and interviewer, having covered soccer clubs Toronto FC and Inter Toronto FC as a full-season reporter, and also producing sports coverage for Toronto radio station VIBE 105.5FM.
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