I think Toronto's problem in the new era is a simple one. Their #1 guy has no edge in the playoffs. Surely Matthews has an elite shot and very good with his reach on the defensive end, but he has no emotion when the team around him is scrumming around or throwing their body around. He can't claim he's 5'1". He's a big guy and can throw his body around a bit. But the fact that 3 (Matthews, Marner, Tavares) of their top 4 scorers never get their hands dirty shows that they as an identity, don't value scrapping their way to get what they need. Their identity at the top is just off. Nylander despite being smaller in stature will muck it up a bit but it's simply not enough. When that large Tavares contract comes off the books they'll likely have to spend it on D, but they have to find a way to perhaps deal Marner and break up the internal club of Marner and Matthews, and get a scrappy scorer to give a new identity. In the past every team's star has been willing to get scrappy. Matthews is certainly unique in that regard that he'll agitate but won't get physical at all.
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