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

[Ryuji Yamazaki]

What a hypocrite.

This thread NEVER gets made if Toronto doesn’t “win” the draft lottery.

 

[RedHawkDown]

Oh have we already arrived at the stage where people are blocking the Olympics from their memory as a coping mechanism

To be completely honest, the Olympics is an essentially useless example. The top countries Olympic teams are essentially NHL All-Star teams, and almost all of the players on those teams are captains or leaders on their own teams. The specific person picked a captain for the team likely does not have an actual captain like role as they would on their own NHL teams. Or do you seriously believe that Brady Tkachuk and Quinn Hughes are deferring to Matthews whenever he wants?

 

[WetcoastOrca]

I prefer the term ‘ astute pundits’ as opposed to ‘haters’. Otherwise good post.

 

[banks]

I'm about as disenchanted with the Maple Leafs as any Leafs fan can be. In the last year or so I've thrown a jersey in the garbage, and stopped watching most games.

For Matthews specifically I've never liked his smug attitude, and I advocate for trading him regularly on this board.

But the guy did just win an Olympic gold as the USA captain. And he has every right to want a gameplan from the new management team. There's lots to hate and complain about in Leaf Land. But Matthews' leadership and commitment isn't one to worry about, and certainly not more because of the reasons brought up here.

 

[Team_Spirit]

Cool, your name is off the list HV.

 

[SheldonJPlankton]

 

[JoVel]

We aren't haters

Speak for yourself!

 

[Sasha Orlov]

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

I’m a hater but that doesn’t mean everything I said wasn’t correct

 

[NikolaTesla]

....and of course the rest of us normal, level headed fans get painted with the same brush.

Don't worry I've known for a while that HockeyVirus is one of those outlier and that he doesn't represent the whole fanbase. Every fanbase has one. HockeyVirus is just really easy to spot because he posts so much and is wrong so damn often.

 

[Sheppy]

I'm about as disenchanted with the Maple Leafs as any Leafs fan can be. In the last year or so I've thrown a jersey in the garbage, and stopped watching most games.

For Matthews specifically I've never liked his smug attitude, and I advocate for trading him regularly on this board.

But the guy did just win an Olympic gold as the USA captain. And he has every right to want a gameplan from the new management team. There's lots to hate and complain about in Leaf Land. But Matthews' leadership and commitment isn't one to worry about, and certainly not more because of the reasons brought up here.

Same here. All the skill in the world, but f*** he comes across as an absolute tool bag.

 

[Cats2TheCup]

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.

If they are smart like Bill Zito level they will trade AM Nylander + their 1 OA pick and become a Stanley Cup contender during the offseason.

 

[Jerzey Devil]

No different than what McDavid did and the Oil is closer to the cup or at least has been.

 

[Cats2TheCup]

When nobody stood up for him after he got Gudas'd really showed me what his teammates think of him. Unreal talent but he's coasted for too long.

Especially when he’s seen what Florida does to anyone who touches Barkov.

Will Hagel ever play another game against Florida and not leave due to injury? It is a legitimate question that must be asked.

AM also sees Barkov’s rings and know they can both win more with Tkachuk. He wants to be back in USA. He loves Florida.

HV knows AM is about to leave and do the unthinkable, so he has to disown him before he discards Toronto.

 

[JianYang]

Haters? I hate his face and mustache but thats about it.

 

[Stephen]

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.

Same way people can tell what kind of driver you are by what you do on the road.

 

[wmupreds]

Look, even if it is true that he told someone he wanted to see a specific direction, I don’t see what’s wrong with that as a captain. Not sure what part of the job description is “bootlick management decisions.”

Getting the first overall pick has a way of making plans more concrete, though..

 

[dukeofjive]

It’s a trick, op has been abducted by aliens and there here trying to sow discord on hfboard.

/s

 

[Cats2TheCup]

I'm about as disenchanted with the Maple Leafs as any Leafs fan can be. In the last year or so I've thrown a jersey in the garbage, and stopped watching most games.

For Matthews specifically I've never liked his smug attitude, and I advocate for trading him regularly on this board.

But the guy did just win an Olympic gold as the USA captain. And he has every right to want a gameplan from the new management team. There's lots to hate and complain about in Leaf Land. But Matthews' leadership and commitment isn't one to worry about, and certainly not more because of the reasons brought up here.

The funniest part is that AM was selected as the Team USA captain to appease the largest NHL fanbase (money). But we all know the true Captain was Matthew Tkachuk. And we all know it.

 

[Kranix]

Papi is a great leader. Team is trash

 

[toddkaz]

It's an even worse take to assume you know how his teammates feel about him, because my guess is you have no idea.

If you're basing his leadership on the team (club) success, fine, have your little narrative and play with that if it makes you feel better.

Nobody on this board, to my knowledge, is in the Leafs dressing room or the US Olympic dressing room. In fact, both Hughes brothers went to bat for him after winning gold.

So why would I listen to other teams' biased fans over them?

Considering the roster turnover, losing repeatedly in the playoffs and missing the playoffs the quote,"leaders lead" doesn't apply here according to you.

 

[FerrisRox]

So why would I listen to other teams' biased fans over them?

Do you feel that you are incapable of commenting on players on any team other than the Maple Leafs without having some sort of "bias" against them?

Why do you think fans of other teams are somehow inherently biased against your team?

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

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.

I'm offended you didn't tag me in the OP.

 

[Stephen]

Do you feel that you are incapable of commenting on players on any team other than the Maple Leafs without having some sort of "bias" against them?

Why do you think fans of other teams are somehow inherently biased against your team?

Everybody is biased against everybody else.

We all want each other to do badly, suffer humiliation and to be right about the weaknesses of your star players. Sports schedenfreude is a big part of why any watches at all, everybody's pain is delicious to others.

 

[Phion Keneuf]

Once he leaves and finds success somewhere else we’ll hear about how the Leafs were dumb for not keeping him.

 

[Peasy]

No different than what McDavid did and the Oil is closer to the cup or at least has been.

One led their team to b2b cup finals game 7s and is one of the greatest playoff performers. The other has won 2 series and not once has been a dominate force in a series or the best player. Not to mention the awful season he just had, with 2 seasons in a row trending down and mysterious injuries constantly surrounding him.

Not even close to the same situation.