Matthews: I'd give up All-Star Game spot for snubbed Leafs Marner, Rielly

Toronto Maple Leafs phenom Auston Matthews was voted as the Atlantic Division's captain at the 2019 NHL All-Star Game, but if he had it his way, he'd sacrifice his spot for teammates Mitch Marner and Morgan Rielly, who were left off the roster.

"In my opinion, having missed the time I did, seeing those three guys, the way they played - Johnny (Tavares), Mitch, and Mo - I think I'd give up my spot for them any day of the week because they've had unbelievable seasons," Matthews told TSN's Kristen Shilton.

Matthews missed a month with a shoulder injury, but still sits second on the Maple Leafs in goals (19) and fourth in points (36) despite skating in only 26 of the team's 40 games.

Tavares (who was named to the All-Star Game roster), Marner, and Rielly have served as the team's offensive catalysts from the beginning of the season, all the way through to the midway mark of the 2018-19 campaign.

Rielly's 44 points are the most among NHL defensemen, while Marner leads the Leafs with 55 points and sits fourth in the league with 40 assists. The controversial All-Star Game format - which requires one representative from each team - is responsible for leaving two of the league's premier players out of the festivities.

For Marner, being left off despite a breakout season isn't a concern.

"Focus on here, focus on helping this team win. Nothing you can do about it," Marner told Shilton, adding that it would be cool to be there, but "it's not a big deal ... There's bigger things in the world to think about than that."

Rielly can still crack the roster thanks to a fan vote, but Marner would seemingly need to be an injury replacement to make the All-Star Game - and given the format, that injury would likely need to occur to Matthews or Tavares.