Mitch Marner's Dominance Without Auston Matthews Driving Up AAV on New Contract

Craig Berube confirmed that Auston Matthews won't be playing for the Leafs at all this weekend after the Leafs' captain was absent from Friday's morning skate.

As the concern among fans for Matthews' health rises, so too does Marner's ask on his next contract.

The Leafs are now 8-4 without Matthews this season after their win Friday against the Detroit Red Wings, which was aided by a natural hat-trick from Marner, the fourth-overall pick in 2015. The hat-trick was the eighth time in twelve games without Matthews that Marner registered multiple points.

The 27-year-old's hat-trick gave him 13 goals on the season, putting him on pace to eclipse the 30-goal mark for just the third time in his career and put him in some elite company as one of four Leafs to have multiple hat-tricks against the Red Wings. However, the stat that had everyone talking on Friday night is how 10 of Marner's 13 goals have come without Matthews in the lineup.

Although Marner has struggled in the playoffs, he appears to have turned over a new leaf under Berube, with a newfound willingness to engage physically.

According to a report, Marner recently turned down an extension offer from the Leafs.

Numbers of that extension were not reported, but one can assume it was an 8-year extension that came with a significant raise from his current $10.9M AAV.

The longer Matthews is out of the lineup, the higher it appears Marner's ask will be on a new contract as he continues to excel without the three-time Rocket Richard winner in the lineup to the point where his points-per-game is a full .2 points higher.

The Leafs and the fan base are obviously thrilled Marner is easing the loss of Matthews in the lineup, but it comes with the fear that he is pricing himself out of Toronto and proving that he can carry a team by himself.

Marner will look to continue his dominance on Saturday when the Leafs return home to host the Washington Capitals night, once again, without Matthews.