Would it really be the end of the world if Matthews isn’t on the team in two years?

[WillTheThrill]

I’ll preface this by saying it’s probably too early to have this conversation. However, with the abysmal start to the season and with what seems like will be the 7th straight year winning nothing of substance, I figure the question has to be asked.

Every leaf fan I’ve heard from thinks it will be the end of the world if Matthews isn’t playing here in two seasons. Matthews is a world class player. No denying that. But is it worth it for the Leafs to pay 13+ mil/yr to a guy who hasn’t proved he can elevate his game in the playoffs? Is it even possible for a team to win the cup in the modern NHL with a player taking up such a high percentage of the cap?

If the answer to these questions is no, or if the Leafs get the slightest inkling that Matthews won’t re-sign, then they have to explore moving him this off-season to at least get somewhat of a haul back for him.

Personally, I am ready to nuke the entire organization at this point. Move on from most (if not all) of the core, front office and coaching staff and start over.

Click to read more...

 

[Cap'n Flavour]

Would the team be worse without its best player, who is definitely a top 5 player in the league? Hard to say - let's debate this for 50 pages.

 

[A1LeafNation]

Leafs will re-sign him...calm down ppl lol.

 

[allfornothing]

Would the team be worse without its best player, who is definitely a top 5 player in the league? Hard to say - let's debate this for 50 pages.

 

[Puckstuff]

It depends who they replace him with. Looking at the 2024 free agent class there are some good players. If we could do a Tkachcuk-Huberdeau type of deal for some other superstar that would be ideal.

 

[LeafsOHLRangers98]

Matthews was our best player in the Tampa series. Led the team physically and on the score sheet.

Yes it would be the end of the world if we moved on from Matthews. We give up a generational talent and if we get a proper return, likely won't be bad enough to finish in the lottery spots, but also likely won't be good enough to make the playoffs as Tavares/Nylander likely walk as well.

We miss out on the generational talent in this upcoming draft and likely regress back to a time where a guy like PA Parenteau leads the team in scoring.

 

[yubbers]

Leafs will re-sign him...calm down ppl lol.

LOL. You taking odds? No chance.

 

[WillTheThrill]

Would the team be worse without its best player, who is definitely a top 5 player in the league? Hard to say - let's debate this for 50 pages.

Well the islanders just went to back to back conference finals after losing their best player

 

[Jozay]

Yeah it'd be pretty bad bro

 

[TheGoldenJet]

I mean theoretically if you traded him for a pair of young, can’t miss, blue chip prospects and some 1st round picks today, tanked this season for a lottery pick…I assume you’d be OK in a couple of years. Not what the fan base wants to see though I’m sure, and justifiably so.

 

[robertmac43]

The world would continue on, but the Leafs would be a lot worse at hockey.

 

[Legion34]

The most likely scenario is he re signs

He by all accounts from every insider believes in the team. The program and wants to be here. He would also be losing An 8th year with his health issues and would be losing a chance to set records for the most important (not successful) team in hockey.

IF he does want out. You have to sell him. You look for combinations of

NYR: Laff/chytil/Schneider/Miller etc
LA: byfield/kaliev/kempe/Brandt clarke
Anaheim: drysdale/mctavish
Dallas: Robertson/hintz/Wyatt johnstob

Of course not all would be in packages but you try to get futures and move on

It’s been a bad stretch but come on. They have done this before. Matthews still loves it here. The idea that you had to win a cup before he hit 25 is dumb.

You have to do what it takes to get him locked up then go from there.

If he wants to stay with Mitch/keep keefe etc you do it get the signature abs then do what you want

 

[JT AM da real deal]

Matty will likely go for da $$$ .. and da best $$$ is right where he is .. odds are very high he resigns here and it does not matter who GM is

 

[ULF_55]

Capspace

Matthews will leave the team guaranteed.

Unless the world ends, I bet one billion dollars ...

All players leave all teams, they are all rentals.

Might be in 2 years, might be in 12, but he'll leave.

 

[TheTotalPackage]

I'm not much of a Matthews fan at all, but he's a unicorn player. Trying to get a player like him is damn near impossible, and even moreso if you think you can do so by trading for one. Franchise waited forever to draft a player like him. You hold on to him at all costs, and give him whatever money he wants to try and assure he remains a Leaf for his entire career.

 

[Aashir]

I wouldn’t care

For a generational player, he doesn’t do much in the playoffs compared to others

Mcdavid, Draisaitl, Mackinnon all have carried their team to at least a series win whilst being dominant

Matthews can’t even do that and I don’t want to hear the excuse of team matchups, we lost to Montreal

 

[dirtydanglez]

if he walks for nothing yea. leafs will just try and buy someone on the free agent market to replace him but it wouldn't be the same. they'll have to trade him for some great young prospects.

 

[Buds17]

How does he leave? Who else is on the team? Realistically, it should end up being a big blow to the team.

 

[Throw More Waffles]

Matthews is the one you do EVERYTHING in your power to keep.

If he demands 15x8, you freaking do it. He isn't an rfa anymore like last negotiation. He had zero leverage then. Now he has all the leverage. You do what you gotta do to keep him.

 

[CDN24]

How does he leave? Who else is on the team? Realistically, it should end up being a big blow to the team.

If the Leafs fail in playoffs again this year with another 1st round exit and Dubas is out, I could see a scenario where he is traded.

Lets say Arizona has a top 5 pick this year (not No 1) would you trade Matthews to Arizona for that pick plus Cooley and Chychrun. Arizona probably says no but I would consider something around that pick and Chychrun

 

[Tufted Titmouse]

If he walks it would be the greatest blow to this org in a long, long time.

If he was dealt for a Lindros-like package, well...it might be alright.

 

[Puckstuff]

All I’m saying is if he doesn’t want to sign a deal next summer I’m exploring my options. Losing him for nothing to L.A when we could at least try and find a Huberdeau-Tkachcuk type deal would be a travesty for this franchise.

 

[Optimist]

Keep Matthews. The rest of the team can go.

 

[wingman75]

I am down for a 34 <> 97 swap. Not gonna happen I realize, but we'd be better because of it.

If there is no success this season, in the playoffs, if he did not return would you really blame the player or the team?

 

[Zero1]

If Matthews walks after 5-years that’s all on Dubas. Not being able to sign Matthews for 8-years because you wanted to overpay Marner is crazy to me.

If we are being honest, Matthews hasn’t really played at a superstar level in the playoffs. He’s been good just not elite like McDavid/MacKinnon/etc.

If we trade Matthews before he walks I think we’ll be alright. You don’t need a Matthews caliber player to lose in the first round anyways.