Knock, knock, knock.
A superstitious Mitch Marner began rapping the wooden shelf behind him in the Maple Leafs dressing room before the question was even finished.
He and Auston Matthews have never missed the playoffs, eight years from the start of their careers, which neither wants to jinx. But how different will this journey look, starting Wednesday in Montreal under a new coach, weaving through 82 games to hopefully another chance to squeeze through a shrinking Stanley Cup window?
Matthews is in his first year as Toronto’s captain, Marner will be playing for a contract extension. The most recent incoming Leaf to begin his tenure with this much playoff exposure was defenceman Allan Stanley, nine straight 1957-58 to ‘66-67, during which he won four Cups. Matthews and Marner have never gone beyond the second round.
“Make the dance,” Matthews said Tuesday as the Leafs headed for the airport. “That’s the goal, but you need a good regular season to get there. And that’s the focus we’re at now.
“We can’t think too far ahead. It’s about taking care of today, then tomorrow, make sure we take steps in the right direction.”
Three of the Leafs’ first four opponents this month all missed the playoffs last year, but it would’ve done no good to mention that aloud on Tuesday.
“Everyone is starting from scratch,” Marner cautioned. “There’s a lot of great teams this year trying to make it as well.
“You can’t get caught looking ahead, you have to be in the here and now. You know there will be challenges some days and others will feel easy. You have to be ready to break through both.”
Other than inheriting the ‘C’ from John Tavares and leading the post-practice stretch, there’s nothing outwardly different about captain Matthews’ mannerisms in camp. But his relationship with Berube, his run at another Rocket Richard Trophy and his chase of Mats Sundin’s franchise goal record (52 shy as of Wednesday) will all be scrutinized.
“My approach doesn’t change,” Matthews insisted. “I try and come in every day and lead by example, continue to take steps and push each other.”
General manager Brad Treliving has been adamant that he didn’t hand Matthews a Superman cape along with pinning that letter on his chest.
“He doesn’t have to change anything,” Treliving underscored. “He’s a guy that people in this room follow. On ice, we know what he can do offensively; to me he’s one of the best two-way players in the game. I don’t think he gets nearly enough attention for how he plays away from the puck, how he checks and how he sets the standard for our team.
“We just need him to be Auston.”
Marner has to justify an extension and also reward the faith of Craig Berube. Seen as a potential problem child for Berube as a key, yet coddled member of the Core Four, there has been no demotion of first line ice time, top power play and penalty kill minutes or as an alternate captain.
But while the major camp experiment was winger William Nylander at centre, which didn’t stick, many think Berube will at some point try Marner in an unfamiliar role in case an adjustment at a crucial time in the schedule is required.
“On some points (Berube’s system) might make it easier, we want to be north, we want to be direct,” Marner said. “We have a lot of guys who can really motor up and down the ice. When there are plays to be made, we look to try and make them, but you also have to watch for someone slashing through you to get behind the ‘D’.”
Matthews had a hat trick in last year’s season opener against the Habs, Marner one assist and they’ll look to start another roll through the record books this week:
Most goals, franchise history
Mats Sundin 420
Darryl Sittler 389
Auston Matthews 368
Most assists, franchise history
Borje Salming 620
Mats Sundin 567
Darryl Sittler 527
Dave Keon 493
Mitch Marner 445
Most points, franchise history
Mats Sundin 987
Darryl Sittler 916
Dave Keon 858
Borje Salming 768
George Armstrong 713
Auston Matthews 649
Ron Ellis 640
Mitch Marner 639
Most even strength goals, franchise history
Auston Matthews 274
Mats Sundin 273
Most power play goals, franchise history
Mats Sundin 124
Darryl Sittler 120
Auston Matthews 94
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