The most significant season of Auston Matthews ’ somewhat-spectacular career begins now.

With questions. So many questions.

This is his second season as captain of the Maple Leafs, his first without Mitch Marner on his wing, his first without team president Brendan Shanahan being his leading supporter, his first as captain of Team USA heading to what will be the most-watched Winter Olympic hockey tournament in history, his first as the second highest-paid player in the National Hockey League.

There is a lot on Matthews’ hockey plate as the new season gets underway. All of this coming off the most feeble goal-scoring numbers of his career, coming off a season with annoying back ailments, all this coming as the Maple Leafs had the Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers on the ropes and s

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