So, the Toronto Maple Leafs’ 2025 Stanley Cup playoff journey wrapped up with a tough Game 7 loss to the Florida Panthers in the second round. For Leafs fans it was an all too familiar end to yet another postseason. The 6-1 loss in Game 7 summed up Auston Matthews’ team’s playoff struggles, with another “what if” added to a long list of “what ifs.” The last game not only wrapped up the Leafs’ season, but marked the end of an era, with star player Mitch Marner deciding that it was time to move on from Toronto.

There were definitely conversations going around in the NHL community after that forward’s intense reaction in Game 7. He let loose with a shout of “wake the f*** up,” clearly expressing his frustration over the Maple Leafs bench. Just a little over a month later, the key player who had been part of the team for almost ten years was gone, traded to the Vegas Golden Knights in a sign-and-trade deal that wrapped up his nine-year run in Toronto. Many fans thought the offseason move was a much-needed change for a team that had hit a wall in its quest for a championship.

Now that Marner’s in Vegas, all eyes are on Auston Matthews and how the captain will guide a revamped roster into the new season, seemingly without the usual pressure of the “Core Four.” But when the team got back together, it was obvious that the past wasn’t going to just fade away. In a media session, Matthews faced a question that showed just how synonymous his presence on has become with Marner. In an interview segment, shared by Spittin’ Chiclets on X, a reporter asked Matthews about his pre-game ritual of staying out late with Marner and how that might change in his absence.

The line of questioning, coming months after the trade, prompted an exasperated response from the Leafs’ captain. “I mean, see what happens I guess,” Matthews replied. “You’ve got two more weeks and then we’re done with these questions.”

Matthews’ comment highlighted that moving on involves not just getting used to a new lineup on the ice but also dealing with a media landscape that keeps bringing up a partnership that’s officially over. But when the Toronto media asked that question, it sparked a lot of backlash from fans who rallied behind their captain.

Defending Auston Matthews from the Toronto Media

It’s been months since the Mitch Marner trade, but the Toronto media keeps asking the same questions again and again. This has been frustrating for Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews, and fans on social media are getting pretty annoyed too, stepping up to defend the NHL star. Charging at the media, this comment read, “The Toronto news media is a cesspool.” Another fan chimed in, saying, “So he should be, Toronto media has nothing better to talk about.”

When the news broke about Marner being traded to Vegas, Matthews mentioned that the Maple Leafs would “obviously miss” him, describing Marner as a “great friend, great teammate.” He also pointed out that “that’s kind of the business side of it” and emphasized that the team has to “keep it moving.” Yeah, the captain has addressed a bunch of questions about his old teammate. With all those questions stacking up after so many months, it’s no surprise he reacted that way to the media.

This fan echoed Matthews’ thoughts, saying, “He’s pretty generous, just cut em off already, find a new storyline, god why are reporters so f***ing lazy.” Another fan sent a direct message to Toronto media, saying, “Why do they need to talk about Marner dude is gone get over it lol.” Looks like even Marner has moved past the whole trade talk.

“This was a spot that was very high on my list. I wanted to come here. Kind of went back to my agent and said, ‘I’m open to doing this if we can find a way to do it.’ A couple hours later, we had a deal going on. Very fortunate. This is the place we want to be. We don’t want to lose that opportunity,” the former Maple Leafs forward shared after joining the Golden Knights.

However, this  comment highlights how the fans connect with their captain, saying, “That’s a Captain setting the tone.” The trade has clearly failed to erase the past for Matthews, who remains the primary target for a media cycle still obsessed with a departed teammate. His immediate reply feels like a captain trying to wrap things up quickly, but it also shows just how tough it is to move on with all the pressure from Toronto hanging over him.