Try and re-sign Matthews this off season. If he doesn't sign then it's game on. Move him and others. I'm sure Arizona would pay a high price for him. If you're only moving Mitch or Styles I would say Mitch just because I think you can get a lot more for him. Make the trade personal, send him to the Sens make sure Brady Tkachuk comes back in the deal.
Should Toronto retool starting next year?
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I wonder how his reputation is now after 8 yrs with the organization....in the view of Leaf fans?? Not great right.
I think he will only be seen as this in Toronto, outside of Toronto may be a different point of view. He didn't have the support like Yzerman,Crosby, Mackinnon, Ovechkin, and McDavid had...in fact alot of these guys had partners who outperformed them in the playoffs....Yzerman had the Russian 5, Crosby (Malkin), Ovechkin (Backstrom), McDavid(Draisatl), so far Mathews hasn't had much support in the defining games.
As it stands right now, how is that legacy in Toronto, and from his point of view will he have a better opportunity to cement his legacy with another team/city. This is what it will come down to, and unfortunately if they end up losing in round 2, it's unlikely he will see his legacy grow in a positive light in Toronto.
CincoHolio
Registered User
Until the Tavares contract is off the books, I think they're kind of in a holding pattern as far as the amount of re-tooling that can be done effectively. Too much dead weight in that contract.
55 years and counting...oy.
55 years and counting...oy.
When Tavares' contract is done god that's gonna be a good day.
Larcos_Unal
Registered Nurse
It's a new NHL, there has to be a careful balance of how many JT, ROR, Giordano, Holl types you throw out there. It's like we built the team specifically to play against a slower Tampa team and now we cannot keep up with Florida.
If we magically beat Florida guess what? Devils and Hurricanes are just as fast and we're always a step behind.
Maple Leafs now bracing for summer with seismic implications - NorthStar Bets
Add it all together and you can understand why we’re now bracing for a summer that carries seismic implications for the organization.
This isn’t tennis or golf.
No team can possibly expect to go on an extended run through the Stanley Cup Playoffs without multiple gamebreakers delivering big moments. Colorado had Cale Makar, Nathan MacKinnon, Gabriel Landeskog, Mikko Rantanen, Valeri Nichushkin and Nazem Kadri last spring. Tampa won its recent Cups on the backs of Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point, Steven Stamkos, Victor Hedman and an all-world performance by Andrei Vasilevskiy.
Pittsburgh wouldn’t have all of those banners without Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Jake Guentzel and Kris Letang meeting the moment. Chicago had Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Marian Hossa, Duncan Keith and a host of others.
The Leafs were built with that blueprint in mind and it hasn’t produced anything close to the intended results. We don’t yet know if Dubas will be retained beyond the expiration of his contract on June 30, but there’s no possible justification for moving ahead with four forwards who account for nearly 50% of the available space in a hard salary cap league and have this firmly-established track record of collective underperformance when the chips are down.
The big decisions are already looming with Matthews and Nylander both eligible to sign extensions as of July 1 and sitting only one year from possible unrestricted free agency. Marner has two more years left on his deal, but a no-movement clause that kicks in that same day.
And what becomes of head coach Sheldon Keefe, who has a sterling regular-season record with this group but is now in the midst of his fourth playoffs where expectations haven’t been met?
It’s awfully telling that these conversations will be in full roar among the NHL’s loudest fanbase long before the puck drops on Game 4 on Wednesday night.
While the players spend the next 48 hours trying to stick to their process and take it one game at a time, any remaining flicker of belief in Leafs Nation has already been extinguished.
Add it all together and you can understand why we’re now bracing for a summer that carries seismic implications for the organization.
This isn’t tennis or golf.
No team can possibly expect to go on an extended run through the Stanley Cup Playoffs without multiple gamebreakers delivering big moments. Colorado had Cale Makar, Nathan MacKinnon, Gabriel Landeskog, Mikko Rantanen, Valeri Nichushkin and Nazem Kadri last spring. Tampa won its recent Cups on the backs of Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point, Steven Stamkos, Victor Hedman and an all-world performance by Andrei Vasilevskiy.
Pittsburgh wouldn’t have all of those banners without Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Jake Guentzel and Kris Letang meeting the moment. Chicago had Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Marian Hossa, Duncan Keith and a host of others.
The Leafs were built with that blueprint in mind and it hasn’t produced anything close to the intended results. We don’t yet know if Dubas will be retained beyond the expiration of his contract on June 30, but there’s no possible justification for moving ahead with four forwards who account for nearly 50% of the available space in a hard salary cap league and have this firmly-established track record of collective underperformance when the chips are down.
The big decisions are already looming with Matthews and Nylander both eligible to sign extensions as of July 1 and sitting only one year from possible unrestricted free agency. Marner has two more years left on his deal, but a no-movement clause that kicks in that same day.
And what becomes of head coach Sheldon Keefe, who has a sterling regular-season record with this group but is now in the midst of his fourth playoffs where expectations haven’t been met?
It’s awfully telling that these conversations will be in full roar among the NHL’s loudest fanbase long before the puck drops on Game 4 on Wednesday night.
While the players spend the next 48 hours trying to stick to their process and take it one game at a time, any remaining flicker of belief in Leafs Nation has already been extinguished.
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Add Nylander to that list. I would love to see the possible returns even if its means retaining 50% for a few years. Leafs are actually in a great position to retool this team properly.
PROUD PAPA
Registered User
- Sep 20, 2021
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We have to change the culture. Right now losing is too easily accepted by those doing it. As a fan base we can be as passionate and have as strong a desire to win as any other in the world but those tasked with doing the winning simply don't share it. That's called a fatal flaw.
I know this core guy and that core guy have their unwavering fans here so the "oh no, not my guy" song and dance will echo here for years. I don't care about them and i'll gladly scroll by their jilted lover posts for the next 10 years if need be.
Just change the culture and find people who understand that winning as a Toronto Maple Leaf must be prioritized over personal achievements, getting through a playoff series completely healthy or hitting the highlight reel. Go somewhere else and take your faulty priorities with you. if you can't accept that.
Don't be scared of ruining what we have. It doesn't work anyway.
I know this core guy and that core guy have their unwavering fans here so the "oh no, not my guy" song and dance will echo here for years. I don't care about them and i'll gladly scroll by their jilted lover posts for the next 10 years if need be.
Just change the culture and find people who understand that winning as a Toronto Maple Leaf must be prioritized over personal achievements, getting through a playoff series completely healthy or hitting the highlight reel. Go somewhere else and take your faulty priorities with you. if you can't accept that.
Don't be scared of ruining what we have. It doesn't work anyway.
Stephen
Moderator
- Feb 28, 2002
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Auston Matthews doesn’t have support in Toronto? Don’t make me laugh. Matthews and this core is the most talented group we’ve likely ever had in 100 years of Toronto hockey in the NHL. The only support that could lift Matthews up would be Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl themselves the way this guy face plants when it matters.
Fogelhund
Registered User
- Sep 15, 2007
- 24,305
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Elite players lead. You need your best players, to be the best players when it counts the most, or you don't win. They support the other players... not the other way around. I fully agree with you here Stephen. The problem is they haven't elevated their games when it counts most, and repeatedly.
We've changed the supporting cast a few times, and this time, put together a very good supporting cast... but the "elite" players haven't scored in this series. I honestly think there is something wrong with Matthews, and that's not excusing him at this point, as it's been an issue a few times.
Change will be needed... though I'm not sure yet how much needs to be changed. Right now... I'd send the group to the moon.
LDN
Registered User
- Sep 29, 2017
- 7,892
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Marner for Brady Tkachuck + Tim Stutzle
Matthew’s for Arizona 2023 1st, Logan Cooley, Jack McBain, Karel Vejmelka, 2024 1st
Nylander for Konecny
Tavares and a 1st for Hayes
Matthew’s for Arizona 2023 1st, Logan Cooley, Jack McBain, Karel Vejmelka, 2024 1st
Nylander for Konecny
Tavares and a 1st for Hayes
Aashir
Backcheck, Forecheck, Paycheque
- Apr 19, 2019
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I said it before:
The day this guy retires, the league will see an uptick in entertainment.
He kills 14-16 minutes of hockey on the ice for one of the biggest teams in the sport.
How he got made captain, how he got 80 points, tbh how he even got this far into his career is insane. The drop off on this guy was immaculate. He’s gonna live off of 3 plays in his hockey career:
Hatty against USA, series clincher against florida for the isles, series clinched for the leafs against tampa
3 moments in a 15 year span of his career.
Ottawa laughs at the first one
Matthews ain’t getting that
Nylander one isn’t really all that helpful
We take on a worse contract in the Tavares trade
All awful trades. Well done
PROUD PAPA
Registered User
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1. I wouldn't do that if i were Ottawa
2. Ditto for the Yotes
3&4. Are basically a 1 and 2 year rental for a team with very little hope of even making the playoffs.
I'm with you on making significant changes but i think our guys contractual status aligns better with teams who feel they are close now.
HolyCrap
Team before player
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I wonder if management (probably a new manager) can talk JT into waiving earlier if they say it’s a retool and if you wanna compete for a cup elsewhere give us options. Get something out of him and he can go elsewhere. Prob wishful thinking.
Rob Brown
Way She Goes
- Dec 17, 2009
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0% chance Ottawa and Arizona do that, the Hayes one doesn't make sense for us, and Nylander for Konecny is a downgrade.
The 2023 1st (6th overall as of now) + Geekie, Dylan Guenther. Look at the returns for Tkachuk, Meier, and DeBrincat, no reason to expect anything less.
Arizona might bite IF the arena vote goes through knowing Matthews would probably sign long term to become the face of the franchise for the rest of his career. Once Matthews gets a taste for free agency its unlikely he'll choose Arizona unless he plays for the home for a year first.
LDN
Registered User
- Sep 29, 2017
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How about if Arizona wins the lottery we do Mattthews and Knies for Cooley and Bedard?
Tell me what impact his supporting cast have had? Did i say they have to be better than mathews, i'm saying which Leaf player has supported Mathews in the PLAYOFFS, as those others i have mentioned. I will be waiting.....
You're kidding right, 100 years, this is the best Leaf team in 100 years??? LOL....wow you really are delusional and probably 15 yrs old.
The 93' leafs team had better supporting cast than this Leafs team today, you look at a few players, i look at the TEAM...goaltending, defence, coaching staff....this team doesn't even belong in the same room as the 93' team....you think Marner/Tavares/Reilly/Nylander is the greatest, what a joke statement. WHAT HAVE THEY DONE??? Other than play well in the regular season, we are talking about winning championships!! not regular season awards, that means nothing to players legacy.
Kazparov
Registered User
- Jan 2, 2017
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The first step which will happen is fire Keefe and Dubas.
New GM makes the call on AM & MM without a confirmation bias. You're going to lose both trades though
New GM makes the call on AM & MM without a confirmation bias. You're going to lose both trades though
Aashir
Backcheck, Forecheck, Paycheque
- Apr 19, 2019
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What the f*** has Matthews done?
You talk big about supporting cast but you seem to forget what supporting means..
Support means give assistance too. Our “main” guy is actively costing us games, he’s such a big no show. He’s been outplayed in by one of nylander or Marner in almost every series. He falls into the choker category very well. He’s fluked his way into a miraculous 4-1 comeback and it seems people think he is a big game player
ToneDog
56 years and counting. #FireTheShanaClan!
Let's look at the numbers, keep in mind playoffs get harder as it goes, refs let things go more, coaches adapt.
Also, it's clear Mathews is getting all the tough match ups, Cirelli Round 1, Barkov Rd2, no one gets more attention the #34
Player - G - A - BKS - Hits
Mathews - 5 - 6 - 14 - 28
Marner - 2 - 10 - 9 - 7
Tavares - 4 - 3 - 24 - 22
Nylander - 2 - 6 - 2 - 2
How has he been out performed than Marner/Nylander, please explain this to me with facts.
Of note, Marner/Tavares/Nylander combined for 1 goal from G3-G9
Mathews scored 5 goals from G3-G9 WHEN GAMES MEANT SOMETHING
Nylander holding the puck on the perimeter and going for a pleasure skate DOES NOTHING.
Mathews 14 blocks (15 combined from other 3 players)
Mathews 28 hits (31 combined from other 3 players)
Please don't tell me you expect Mathews to over perform the 3 other guys combined? he's not making 3 times their salary.
I haven;;t even talked about Leafs defence, and the average goaltending, what has he done??? Well more than the other 3 when the games counted.
ACC1224
Super Elite, Passing ALL Tests since 2002
- Aug 19, 2002
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If we're being honest, he's been the most disappointing of all.
