NHL analysts reckon Leafs would prefer "crybaby" Mitch Marner over "AI sloth" Auston Matthews amid his current slump

Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube was very particular about his leadership group taking responsibility after they lost 6-3 to the Edmonton Oilers at home on Saturday. Many felt it was a hint towards captain Auston Matthews' play, as others from their core, William Nylander was sick during the game, and John Tavares has been punching way above his weight.

That speculation was cleared during the Leafs' practice on Monday when Berube stated that Matthews, who has just four points in December, hasn't been playing up to the high standards he had set for himself. But the forward, when questioned about the need to take responsibility, side-stepped from making any comment about himself, instead bringing others into the conversation as a collective.

“I mean, we can all be better,” Matthews said Monday. “Obviously, the last two games, it’s frustrating. You go into the game against San Jose, got the lead, and the third period wasn’t very good. And then on Saturday, we’re in a position where the game’s right there.”

This didn't sit well with NHL analysts Nick Kypreos, Justin Bourne and Sam McKee on Sportsnet's Kyper and Bourne show on Monday. They felt that Matthews' comments were too bland and mechanical for someone who got called out by his coach.

"If I pumped into ChatGPT, 'Give me an audio of a guy talking about him getting called out by the coach as a leader,' I feel like that's what it would come out with," McKee said. "No, but Sam, that's the story," Boune said. "The story is that he's just an AI sloth. He's not taking personal responsibility.

Kypreos went further to suggest that the Leafs' fanbase was better off with someone like Mitch Marner addressing the media. Despite getting called out by the fans for being a crybaby, it would serve the club better than what Matthews has been saying in the current situation.

"You remember Mitch Marner's rant at the end of the year, and everybody called him a baby and crybaby in the playoffs when he's like, "Wake up! Wake up!" And everybody says, "Ah, he's just selfish and a crybaby." Give me something like that. I'll take anything. I'll take a crybaby. I'll take whatever. But there is zero out of all of them," Kypreos added.

Constant criticism eventually led to Marner's trade to the Vegas Golden Knights before he signed an eight-year $96 million contract with the team. The Leafs' Core Four was reduced to Matthews, Nylander and Tavares.

Craig Berube wants focus to remain on the team despite Auston Matthews production woes

Despite some criticism, there was some amount of restraint from Craig Berube, who doesn't want Matthews to be looked at in a different light than any other player on the Leafs roster that needs improvement.

“It’s not at the level that he wants it at — or us,” Berube said. “And it’s not just about scoring goals; it’s just the whole game in general. But I do believe — and I know he believes — it’s going to get better here.” “He’s like everybody else. We got to all be better,” Berube added. “I’m not going to just focus on one guy. It’s not about one guy; it’s about the team.”

But no one on the Leafs lineup has scored 69 goals in a season. Matthews reached that figure in 2023-24, but regular injuries since have derailed that momentum. He scored a career-low 33 goals last season and has just 13 in 26 games so far in 2025-26.

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Edited by R. Nikhil Parshy