Yeah, I don't know what people are expecting. What's Toronto supposed to do about the fact he hasn't lived up to expectations in the postseason? Cut bait?
"Auston, we've been reading HF Boards, and they say you're not worth the money and your contract sucks. Please take a discount."
He'd just go to free agency and get paid elsewhere, and where does that leave the Maple Leafs? Without their top line center and staring down the barrel of a rebuild. You play the cards you're dealt and you do what you can to keep your best players.