The Toronto Maple Leafs are living life without Auston Matthews at the moment, and they're living just fine. Toronto currently sits tied for second in the Atlantic division with the Boston Bruins and a big playoff push is without a doubt still in sight. Fans of other teams sometimes feel that Leaf fans have an over exaggerated love fest with their youngsters, however whether they want to admit it or not, Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner are part of the NHL's future and are both elite talents. Wayne Gretzky was recently on Leafs Lunch and made a huge statement not just about the Leafs' but specifically about Matthews and Marner. Gretzky compared the duo to himself and Mark Messier, something Leafs' haters will love to hear. The Great One also said the Leafs have a solid chance at a Stanley Cup run and added that if he was Nylander, he would have signed in September.
