IF the Leafs do not win the SC this year or next. Does Matthews want out?

[Fatass]

Matthews (imo) loves playing in TO. He’s a peacock. He loves the attention. The club is really good. No way he wants out.

 

[TheSuperElite]

You can't compare the two.

McDavid has played at the level of a Mt. Rushmore top 5 of all time player in the playoffs who has been held down by roster construction.

Matthews' goalscoring drops off a cliff in the playoffs, 99% of which is in the first round. He's as much to blame as the team around him.

 

[hamzarocks]

He's got a dawg in him, but it's more like one of those annoyingly yappy chihuahuas that you know you could punt to the moon. Or a timid labrador that's scared of its own shadow.


I wanted to like this post until the bolded. The Leafs are not a better team at all. They're a bunch of bitchass bitches until proven otherwise

Thats fair, I just think if any of the boston teams we faced (2013, 2018, 2019, amd now 2024) this is the weakest one with least amount of physical play and offensive talent

Its sad we have to wait until most of their elite players are retired but this is a MUST WIN series.

Leafs are slight favorites coming into the series. I dont want people to pretend we are/were the underdogs if we lose and try to pretend the core guys get another excuse.

They have to shut up and deliver

 

[Plural]

I don't think he wants out, but probably wants to improve the Leafs.

I get that the team has underperformed in playoffs as a whole, but Leafs are a perennial playoff team and changing to a better team is not that easy. Where would he even go?

 

[Zegs2sendhelp]

I don't think he wants out, but probably wants to improve the Leafs.

I get that the team has underperformed in playoffs as a whole, but Leafs are a perennial playoff team and changing to a better team is not that easy. Where would he even go?

I actually think the package the leafs get for matthews would make the leafs actual contenders

 

[Plural]

I actually think the package the leafs get for matthews would make the leafs actual contenders

Might be, they still would need a good #1C. But what team can do that trade and also improve cause I don't see Matthews wanting to go to a bubble team or a lottery team.

 

[AvroArrow]

No, he signed an extension and their window is going to re-open in 2 years. These next 2 years are wasted in my opinion. 5M dead cap in Brodie, 11M dead cap in Tavares and Marner being Marner.

Once the 16M from Brodie/JT expires, they'll be able to address the major holes on the roster (D + G) and then if done right, the window will open again. There was a small window during the ELC years.

 

[Oilslick941611]

Matthews is getting what he actually prioritizes - max contract and max free time.

and almost 70 goals

 

[Orfieus]

Matthews is getting what he actually prioritizes - max contract and max free time.

Which is why I think Matthews won't be against a trade as long as he can keep his NMC

 

[DamonDRW]

and almost 70 goals

Regular season goals.

 

[Coffey]

and almost 70 goals

Glad he got them into the playoffs.

 

[34]

The Leafs are not winning the Cup, that is pretty obvious lol.

Highly Doubt that Matthews asks for a trade as his new contract has not even kicked in yet.

 

[333359]

I think people generally overestimate where winning a Cup sits on most of these guys priority list.

 

[North Cole]

He would have gone to FA if he wanted out. He's not going sign and then request a trade.

 

[JaegerDice]

No, imo.

He seems like a guy that wants the spotlight of the biggest hockey market even more than he wants to win.

 

[TanguaySauce]

Matthews joined the NHL a season after McDavid and both players have not had that much success in the playoffs and at the end of the day that will be how the players are judged. You gotta think if McDavid wants out of Edmonton due to lack of playoff success, Matthews can not be that far behind

McDavid and Matthews should just say F it and team up somewhere for a year

 

[AvalancheRy]

He does not seem to have that burning desire to win a team championship, he is happy scoring goals and having fun, much like Kessel was. I do not think he even entertained moving to another team to win.

Always love when casual fans can peer into the mind of any professional athlete, much less one of the best ones playing in the toughest market in hockey. It's nice knowing we fans can relate to them on that level.

 

[Frank Drebin]

I don't think he wants out, but probably wants to improve the Leafs.

I get that the team has underperformed in playoffs as a whole, but Leafs are a perennial playoff team and changing to a better team is not that easy. Where would he even go?

Not badly enough to take any, and I mean any kind of a discount in salary

 

[Irishguy42]

Why would Matthews want to leave? To go play for his hometown te...nevermind.

 

[Czechboy]

IF they lose, that's not good.lol It'd be worth at least considering trading one of the big boys for a equivalent Dman makign equivalent money.

FTR.. not Matthews fault. Amazing player. Poor roster construction is not the star players fault.

 

[Maple Leaf]

No more like mcDavid is coming over to help out

 

[Chainshot]

I could see him going to whoever is left in management and demanding they do what needs to be done to make the team playoff capable with him as a member of it.

 

[Johnny HFBOARDS]

Top heavy team, bad contract injuries, no shut down system, no goaltending, no support players. 1 guy ain't the Leafs problem.

 

[SheldonJPlankton]

He's got a dawg in him, but it's more like one of those annoyingly yappy chihuahuas that you know you could punt to the moon. Or a timid labrador that's scared of its own shadow.

A Labrahuahua?

He is, after all, a Mexican through his mother.

 

[Dieseloil]

Well, Arizona is out.