When everything is said and done....Auston Matthews.

[HockeyVirus]

Matthews up until the last few seasons has been the greatest talent I have seen in a Leafs sweater and blew my mind nightly. During his 69 goal season, the amount of swagger and leadership he showed was incredible and I understand why after that, the org felt it was time for him to become Captain.

However with the loud noise coming out of the market about how Matthews isn't sure he wants to return and needs to be "sold" on a plan, the pattern is too obvious to ignore any longer. When the going gets tough, Matthews wants nothing to do with it. Any semblance of that leadership has evaporated in the last 2 years he has worn the C.

Let me be clear, are the Leafs as an org in a great position right now? Absolutely not. However, a large reason they are in this spot is BECAUSE of Matthews. As the highest paid player in the league he is the one who had an unacceptable season last year where it looked like for large stretches he wasn't even trying. HE is the guy who hasn't stepped up in the big playoff moments.

This is not some situation like Eichel in Buffalo. The Leafs have been a playoff team his entire career many years being top 5 teams in the regular season. After 1 bad season the captain isn't sure he wants to stay? It shows exactly the kind of leader he is. Refuses to take accountability for his garbage unacceptable play and is ready to bail on his team mates who in his words are "passengers".

Now, had he done another year, the Leafs were awful again he rebounded but it wasn't enough and with 1 year left he decides I am not staying? Totally valid. You gave it 2 years, the org is heading down an obvious path I get it. But to want to bail after 1 bad season just shows how poor his character is.

Absolutely incredible, mind melting talent. Very questionable character and leadership. I hate to admit it, the haters were right about that.

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

We aren't haters , just unbiased observers , It was quite obvious to anybody paying attention. Glad you are waking up HV. What has this guy done for your city? Nothing but bring shame

 

[JKG33]

Glad to see you on board. This is everything I've been preaching about him for years

 

[robertmac43]

I think so much AM34 potentially leaving comes down to Berube. I don't think he wants to play for him anymore. To me thats looked clear since the Fall and I imagine a lot of the Leafs feel the same way

 

[Coffey]

Sometimes haters aren't just hating for nothing.

But sometimes they do.

 

[Sasha Orlov]

Thank you!

 

[Rare Jewel]

How would anyone know what kind of leader he is?

Are they in the room? Do they converse with him?

Why did the US Olympic team also choose him as captain?

Nonsense.

 

[Dr Pepper]

Matthews up until the last few seasons has been the greatest talent I have seen in a Leafs sweater and blew my mind nightly. During his 69 goal season, the amount of swagger and leadership he showed was incredible and I understand why after that, the org felt it was time for him to become Captain.

However with the loud noise coming out of the market about how Matthews isn't sure he wants to return and needs to be "sold" on a plan, the pattern is too obvious to ignore any longer. When the going gets tough, Matthews wants nothing to do with it. Any semblance of that leadership has evaporated in the last 2 years he has worn the C.

Let me be clear, are the Leafs as an org in a great position right now? Absolutely not. However, a large reason they are in this spot is BECAUSE of Matthews. As the highest paid player in the league he is the one who had an unacceptable season last year where it looked like for large stretches he wasn't even trying. HE is the guy who hasn't stepped up in the big playoff moments.

This is not some situation like Eichel in Buffalo. The Leafs have been a playoff team his entire career many years being top 5 teams in the regular season. After 1 bad season the captain isn't sure he wants to stay? It shows exactly the kind of leader he is. Refuses to take accountability for his garbage unacceptable play and is ready to bail on his team mates who in his words are "passengers".

Now, had he done another year, the Leafs were awful again he rebounded but it wasn't enough and with 1 year left he decides I am not staying? Totally valid. You gave it 2 years, the org is heading down an obvious path I get it. But to want to bail after 1 bad season just shows how poor his character is.

Absolutely incredible, mind melting talent. Very questionable character and leadership. I hate to admit it, the haters were right about that.

Is this all based off of Chris Johnston and his "sources"?

Haven't heard anyone else jump on this theory aside from him.

 

[HockeyVirus]

How would anyone know what kind of leader he is?

Are they in the room? Do they converse with him?

Why did the US Olympic team also choose him as captain?

Nonsense.

His actions this season speak more than anything else could. I am not disputing his ability and talent. I am not disputing he very well returns to being a superstar generational goal scorer.

A captain he is not.

 

[Rare Jewel]

A captain he is not.

He quite literally is, for club and country.


Don't get flustered by various reporting. Or if you are, at least take all of it on board. Pagnotta also said yesterday that, supposedly, he was excited after winning the lottery, and most saw the post of him following McKenna's Instagram account.

 

[leafsfan5]

I'll preface with if he wants Berube gone and the Leafs won't do it, I understand his rationale more. Berube is a waste of time ruining Matthews career

But if the Friedman report is true and he wants to leave in July, he's a loser.

Leafs catered to him for a decade, built a contender (flawed, but contender nonetheless) and we lost in large part because he couldn't perform. This isn't an Edmonton situation where McDavid/Drai dragged their flawed team. Matthews was a big part of the flaw.

Now we have 1 down year, somehow luck out with getting 1OA for it, and Matthews won't give us a chance to turn it around?? Even when he's signed for 2 more years??? Not even see how the season goes before making a decision?

 

[GeeoffBrown]

I do think that Matthews needs a strong season next year, or people will start to say that Marner was the one stirring the drink

I do understand if, for example, he would not want to be part of a rebuild in Toronto, if that's the direction they're going

 

[Divine]

Why are you turning on him due to the media reports?

Leafs win the lottery and Matthews instantly starts following Gavin McKenna on instagram - that doesn't seem like a guy who wants to leave.

Sounds like the media is just trying to make a story to get clicks and it's working looking at the outrage in this thread.

 

[FerrisRox]

Matthews up until the last few seasons has been the greatest talent I have seen in a Leafs sweater and blew my mind nightly. During his 69 goal season, the amount of swagger and leadership he showed was incredible and I understand why after that, the org felt it was time for him to become Captain.

However with the loud noise coming out of the market about how Matthews isn't sure he wants to return and needs to be "sold" on a plan, the pattern is too obvious to ignore any longer. When the going gets tough, Matthews wants nothing to do with it. Any semblance of that leadership has evaporated in the last 2 years he has worn the C.

Let me be clear, are the Leafs as an org in a great position right now? Absolutely not. However, a large reason they are in this spot is BECAUSE of Matthews. As the highest paid player in the league he is the one who had an unacceptable season last year where it looked like for large stretches he wasn't even trying. HE is the guy who hasn't stepped up in the big playoff moments.

This is not some situation like Eichel in Buffalo. The Leafs have been a playoff team his entire career many years being top 5 teams in the regular season. After 1 bad season the captain isn't sure he wants to stay? It shows exactly the kind of leader he is. Refuses to take accountability for his garbage unacceptable play and is ready to bail on his team mates who in his words are "passengers".

Now, had he done another year, the Leafs were awful again he rebounded but it wasn't enough and with 1 year left he decides I am not staying? Totally valid. You gave it 2 years, the org is heading down an obvious path I get it. But to want to bail after 1 bad season just shows how poor his character is.

Absolutely incredible, mind melting talent. Very questionable character and leadership. I hate to admit it, the haters were right about that.

Did it occur to you that maybe a lot of these people weren't haters, but they were in fact just people that didn't have a rooting interest and looked at the situation without bias?

Look at how many Leaf fans suddenly agree with "the haters" about Mitch Marner the moment he said he didn't want to re-sign in Toronto.

 

[WarriorofTime]

Sir, this is a Wendy’s

 

[RogerRoger]

After 1 bad season the captain isn't sure he wants to stay?

imo it's about how the team reacted to him being blatantly kneed. He's salty, and I don't blame him too much for that.
Plus, he can always just comeback and say these were false rumors.

 

[Michoulicious]

Trading Matthews for picks + young pieces could be a great rebuild plan around McKenna.

Only problem is they don't have their picks for the next 2 drafts. That is a BIG problem.

 

[Jeune Poulet]

Very questionable character and leadership. I hate to admit it, the haters were right about that.

Yeah well, that's not called being a hater. That's called being lucid.

Try it. Works wonders in all sorts of situations!

 

[JKG33]

Sir, this is a Wendy’s

 

[Norwegianoiler]

We aren't haters , just unbiased observers , It was quite obvious to anybody paying attention. Glad you are waking up HV. What has this guy done for your city? Nothing but bring shame

Hate is as blinding as love - and while there might be some neutrals, they're few and far between. Our menu generally consists of a cold bias starter, a main course of bad faith argumentation on a bed of sour grapes, with cherry-picked denial for dessert.

 

[SavBigMoneyAtBedards]

Look at this horrible captain!

 

[Sheppy]

Has hell froze over?

All jokes aside, he's a world class talent, just not a world class winner. The guy is about Matthews and Matthews only. Always felt this way.

 

[cowboy82nd]

How would anyone know what kind of leader he is?

Are they in the room? Do they converse with him?

Why did the US Olympic team also choose him as captain?

Nonsense.

So he wouldn’t whine about it?

 

[Peasy]

Damn what a slow turn around for HV this season

 

[winnipegger]

Tavares should have stayed captain but it's not like that would have changed the outcomes. Leafs management built a good team in 24 but the problem was the Panthers were better. Before that, the lightning were better. Before that, Boston was better. The only people that deserve blame on the leafs is the management. They were always worse than another team in their division. If Matthews is declining now the leafs would be really smart to get a haul for him before it becomes glaringly obvious that he's not the 60 goal player anymore.