"Matthews vs. Marner: Who Will Get Off to the Better Start This Season?"
As the Toronto Maple Leafs gear up for the 2025-26 season, all eyes will be on two of the team’s biggest stars: Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner. Both players are coming off incredible seasons, and there’s a fierce debate brewing about who will get off to the better start this year. Let's break down the expectations for each player and see who might lead the charge for Toronto.
Auston Matthews: The Goal Scorer
Auston Matthews is widely regarded as one of the best goal scorers in the NHL. His ability to find the back of the net from almost any angle has made him a perennial Hart Trophy contender. Matthews’ start to the season is always highly anticipated, and given his consistency, it’s hard to bet against him.
After finishing the 2024-25 season with another strong performance, Matthews will undoubtedly be looking to build on that momentum. With a blazing shot and an uncanny ability to get open in the slot, Matthews could be poised to start hot and continue his dominant scoring pace early this season. If his powerplay production continues to click with the Leafs' other key players, expect Matthews to hit the ground running, potentially leading the team in goals right out of the gate.
Mitch Marner: The Playmaker
While Matthews is the goal-scoring machine, Mitch Marner is the magician behind the assists. Marner’s playmaking ability is second to none in the NHL, and his vision on the ice makes him a constant threat. He’s known for his ability to create scoring chances for others, and his chemistry with Matthews is something that has made the two of them lethal together.
Last season, Marner finished with an impressive number of assists, and as always, his ability to orchestrate plays from the blue line and create offensive opportunities will be key in setting up Matthews for even more goals. Marner is also known for his work ethic, and his defensive play has become an underrated aspect of his game. Expect Marner to get off to a fast start, driving the offense and feeding Matthews with plenty of scoring opportunities.
The Verdict: Who Will Get Off to the Better Start?
Both Matthews and Marner are poised for big seasons, but when it comes to who will get off to the better start,
That being said, Marner’s playmaking and consistency cannot be overlooked. If he continues to create scoring opportunities at his usual pace, his contributions will be critical to Matthews' success, and together, they could lead the Leafs to an explosive start.
Who do you think will get off to the better start this season — Matthews or Marner? Let us know!
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Steve Waugh Reveals How Mother Teresa's Organisation Changed Him: "All These Nuns..."
Even as India dominates world cricket on and off the field, Steve Waugh said Australia can definitely assist the country in Olympic sports.
Cricket icon Steve Waugh feels Australia can play a significant role in "helping" India become a global sporting superpower by providing expertise in key areas such as technology, high-performance coaching, sports science, and sports medicine. Even as India dominates world cricket on and off the field, Waugh said Australia can definitely assist the country in Olympic sports. "They don't need any help in cricket. They do it very well in India. But they have the sports where Australia can definitely help," Waugh said during an interaction on the sidelines of an event.
Waugh is venturing into India's business corridors through Australia Essence, a company that he has co-founded and aims to bring premium Australian brands across food, wellness, and lifestyle to the country's consumers.
"We have got the best of technology. The best sports science. The best sports medicine. Sports clothing. A couple of power brands in Australia, in that sporting area.
"So we have got the technology and expertise in Australia. That will definitely help India become better at sports," the former Australia captain added.
Australia is known for its strong and vibrant sports culture and the country has consistently produced legends across disciplines, something India still lacks.
Speaking about his childhood days, Waugh reminisced, "Sport was everything to me. I went to school basically to play sport. It was sport 24x7. And then education. I fitted that in alongside sport.
"India is the other way around. Education is number one. And then you want to play a bit of sport.
"But just recently I have seen a change. There is a lot more focus on sport in schools and education institutions.
"Australia is really great at that. I know that India are very keen to have a positive influence on the world stage, not just in cricket but at the Olympics. I think Australia can really help you."
Meeting with Mother Teresa was catalyst for his philanthropic efforts
The legendary player has been heavily involved in charitable work since retiring from the game, establishing the Steve Waugh Foundation in Australia to support children with rare diseases besides committing himself to supporting the Udayan home in India for children affected by leprosy.
While many of his contemporaries from the cricket fraternity got involved into coaching, commentating, and administration, Waugh, 60, actively took part in philanthropic works, a meeting with Mother Teresa in the mid 1990s proving to be the catalyst.
"It just sort of happened. I don't really know (how I got into charity), it sort of found me.
"Just sort of happened by accident. I was on a tour to India. One of the journalists during an interview asked me was: 'which person do you most admire in the world'? And I just said Mother Teresa." Waugh took advantage of an off day on the tour to visit Mother Teresa.
"We were staying at the Oberoi Hotel in Calcutta (Kolkata). We had a day off from cricket. And he said. Do you realise you can meet Mother Teresa? I said how? Pretty simple. We just go to a rickshaw for The Missionaries of Charity Mother House.
"6 am in the morning, with the sisters of the Missionaries of Charity Mother house, witnessed an early morning mass. Which is a pretty incredible time. I'm not really a church goer... I try and do the right thing. But I don't think I'm a really religious person.
"But that (visit to Mother House) sort of convinced me that there was something definitely more there. So I was watching all these nuns praying. It was pretty surreal watching it," he said.
