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The Core Has To Go

There have been plenty tea leaves to be read on Matthew's pending UFA mindset for years now. He's been very careful not to mention how much he loves playing here, or wanting to be a Leaf for life. The usual tropes from star players looking for a new contract with their current team - you just don't get anything of that from him.

My theory, while wild, is that he's been pulling up this year - I personally don't believe he is happy to be in Toronto (the City) not the organization. As someone who has lived and loves the LA life (and not even as a filthy rich 20-something) I can fully understand why he'd prefer to be elsewhere and I bet heavy that's where he'll ultimately end up.

Folks - he's American with Mexican roots. He played his junior years in Switzerland rather than in Canada where the undisputed best programs exist for young hockey talent. That alone should have raised some eyebrows that this cat is different.

Leafs legacy is about all I can see as a draw to stay here, for someone like him.

Time will tell.
 
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CincoHolio said:
There have been plenty tea leaves to be read on Matthew's pending UFA mindset for years now. He's been very careful not to mention how much he loves playing here, or wanting to be a Leaf for life. The usual tropes from star players looking for a new contract with their current team - you just don't get anything of that from him.

My theory, while wild, is that he's been pulling up this year - I personally don't believe he is happy to be in Toronto (the City) not the organization. As someone who has lived and loves the LA life (and not even as a filthy rich 20-something) I can fully understand why he'd prefer to be elsewhere and I bet heavy, that's where he'll ultimately end up.

Folks - he's American with Mexican roots. He played his junior years in Switzerland rather than in Canada where the undisputed best programs exist for young hockey talent. That alone should have raised some eyebrows that this cat is different.

Leafs legacy is about all I can see as a draw to stay here, for someone like him.

Time will tell.
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A guy like Matthews can’t have a “pull up” gear without real reputational damage. You can’t go Vince Carter in this sport, go chase glory somewhere else without that long shadow hanging over your career. The best case scenario is it’s a down year. He recommits and a revamped program gets him back on track to that 1st overall to cup storyline.
 
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Stephen said:
A guy like Matthews can’t have a “pull up” gear without real reputational damage. You can’t go Vince Carter in this sport, go chase glory somewhere else without that long shadow hanging over your career. The best case scenario is it’s a down year. He recommits and a revamped program gets him back on track to that 1st overall to cup storyline.
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I think you give him too much credit for wanting to be that guy. I don't think he cares all that much about his rep. Leafs fail again in embarrassing fashion makes it a lot easier to leave the team a year later then if they had won the cup. Sorry, I just don't see that fire in this guy.

edit: He'll get his bag no matter what he does here on out.
 
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Stephen said:
A guy like Matthews can’t have a “pull up” gear without real reputational damage. You can’t go Vince Carter in this sport, go chase glory somewhere else without that long shadow hanging over your career. The best case scenario is it’s a down year. He recommits and a revamped program gets him back on track to that 1st overall to cup storyline.
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Didn’t seem to bother Tavares.
If the team trades him as a result of his answer, then that’s even less pressure on Matthews. You traded me gets him off the hook.
 
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Tuna99 said:
From the outside looking in - keep Matthews and Marner - get Reilly some big time help and trade William Soft-lander anywhere that wants a player that never does it when it counts (Vancouver would be the place)
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If you think Nylander is soft and "never does it when it counts", but Marner isn't, then yes, you are outside looking in, and not doing it very well.
 
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Wait a minute? Mitches NMC kicks in this July 1 too??

So the team is basically locked in with this core with absolutely no leverage at all past July 1.

Brilliant.
 
CincoHolio said:
Wait a minute? Mitches NMC kicks in this July 1 too??

So the team is basically locked in with this core with absolutely no leverage at all past July 1.

Brilliant.
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1683732160105.jpeg
 
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CincoHolio said:
Wait a minute? Mitches NMC kicks in this July 1 too??

So the team is basically locked in with this core with absolutely no leverage at all past July 1.

Brilliant.
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It's why Dubas went all in at the deadline. Seems like he really thought this was the time to get it done.
 
Stephen said:
Tavares isn’t exactly a great legacy.
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11 million buys a lot of Pajamas. Don’t think he’s worried and neither will Matthews be.
The contract negotiations pretty much speak volumes about their concern.
Matthews, Marner and Nylander all maneuvered themselves to UFA as soon as possible.
 
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seventieslord said:
Actually, the argument makes a lot of sense. It shows you that is possible to trade a player like that and not regret it.
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Actually Tim Tomas was pulling that team regardless of who was at C.

You don't think Boston regrets that deal? Any team would. They would have won in 2011 if it was the same team and Thornton.

If you want to see a Leaf team without a #1C look at the 2008-2016 Leafs. Might as well go into full rebuild.

That is worst case scenario if Auston doesn't have a agreement in place by the draft.
 
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therealkoho said:
We usually see eye to eye on stuff but not on this. I don't think Matthews any different than Marner when it comes to his feelings on the media, he's one of the snippiest interviews on the team, and its my belief that he would probably love to go to a US market where hockey isn't life and death and he can lead a fairly normal life.
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I agree with you but if you resign either of them it has to be with the thought that they can change cause what they are now won't work. Not sure who was on the FAN590 this morning but he said these guys are not laying it all on the line like Sittler, Clarke and Gilmour would.
 
A1LeafNation said:
Actually Tim Tomas was pulling that team regardless of who was at C.

You don't think Boston regrets that deal? Any team would. They would have won in 2011 if it was the same team and Thornton.

If you want to see a Leaf team without a #1C look at the 2008-2016 Leafs. Might as well go into full rebuild.

That is worst case scenario if Auston doesn't have a agreement in place by the draft.
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I think Boston regrets the return more than the trade itself.
 
therealkoho said:
We usually see eye to eye on stuff but not on this. I don't think Matthews any different than Marner when it comes to his feelings on the media, he's one of the snippiest interviews on the team, and its my belief that he would probably love to go to a US market where hockey isn't life and death and he can lead a fairly normal life.
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He does come off as snippy and a tag arrogant. Marner comes off as an entitled teenager who will never take responsibility for his own shit play. Or if he does it's just platitudes
 
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ShaneFalco said:
He does come off as snippy and a tag arrogant. Marner comes off as an entitled teenager who will never take responsibility for his own shit play. Or if he does it's just platitudes
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Is it the pressure of this market?

Is it partly the way society raises its children today, I mean there isn't one guy on the team under 26 that has any real snarl in their game. That includes most of the fanbase especially the ones that freaked out about Kadri taking care of business, because no one else would.

Is it the touchy feely nonsense that surrounds the team that doesn't allow them to let the animal out?

I have no idea what the answers are, would they respond to a guy like Keenan who wanted all players to be killers?
 
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A1LeafNation said:
Actually Tim Tomas was pulling that team regardless of who was at C.

You don't think Boston regrets that deal? Any team would. They would have won in 2011 if it was the same team and Thornton.

If you want to see a Leaf team without a #1C look at the 2008-2016 Leafs. Might as well go into full rebuild.

That is worst case scenario if Auston doesn't have a agreement in place by the draft.
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You think Colorado (formerly Quebec) regrets having to trade Lindros?
 
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Over/under on how many leafs will use injuries (other than O'Reilly & Samsonov) as an excuse for their choke job?

CincoHolio said:
Wait a minute? Mitches NMC kicks in this July 1 too??

So the team is basically locked in with this core with absolutely no leverage at all past July 1.

Brilliant.
Click to expand...
Once they kick in they'll demand whatever they want or bolt for nothing.
 
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Mitch Marner after being asked about his performance in game 3 and the criticism levied at him and the team:

"We don't care what you guys say, we don't listen to you guys outside of this locker room. We're just focused on ourselves."

Leon Draisaitl after losing game 1 despite scoring four goals and being asked if he took some personal enjoyment out of that:

"No. Nope. We lost."

Says a lot, doesn't it?
 
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Bourne Endeavor said:
Mitch Marner after being asked about his performance in game 3 and the criticism levied at him and the team:

"We don't care what you guys say, we don't listen to you guys outside of this locker room. We're just focused on ourselves."

Leon Draisaitl after losing game 1 despite scoring four goals and being asked if he took some personal enjoyment out of that:

"No. Nope. We lost."

Says a lot, doesn't it?
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Not really, pretty weird take.
They were asked two totally different questions.
 
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