Temperature Surrounding Auston Matthews Needs to Be Lowered

For one, citing “league sources” really isn’t relevant to the situation. Who cares what other people around the league think? A lot of people are going to say or think that he doesn’t know what he’s going to do and create some doubt. Are those outside of the Maple Leafs organization really close to the situation? Do they know for sure what Matthews and his camp are actually thinking? Why not actually talk to the people involved and even sources around the team and get their sense instead of those from outside? 

Second, the offseason hasn’t even started and already the media is jumping to that nuclear option. Matthews is still under contract and assuming that he may not return next season is really stoking the flames of a talking point that will create a lot of takes. Yes, he needs to assess his options going forward and needs to see if it’ll work out. Meeting with management is the first big step, but what if he agrees with their plan? Then all this panic would’ve been for nothing. Even The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta on The Sheet with Jeff Marek, felt there was a misunderstanding with the reports on Matthews and still wants to win with the Maple Leafs. (19:49 mark)

Right now, it feels like a lot of hearsay from other voices outside of the team than from the actual parties that matter. Jumping to that conclusion when nothing has happened is not ideal.

Matthews Has Right to Assess Options

Matthews and the new tandem of general manager John Chayka and senior executive advisor Mats Sundin are set to meet in order to discuss the plan going forward. After all, it was a really disappointing season where Matthews missed the playoffs for the first time in his career and they took a big step back with some of the moves Brad Treliving made. Chayka and Sundin need to present to him what they’re thinking, how they’re going to execute it and the exact time frame.  

If he isn’t moved by their plan and wants out now, fine you can start shopping him. Though, it wouldn’t be a great look on him after he said it was an honour to wear the captaincy and wants to win with this team. As he’s under contract, that’s more than enough time to try and turn things around. Although, new management needs to get a head start on their plan right away. If you’re the leader, you need to see things through and it’s on you to lead the team and get back to being successful. That would be the true nature of a captain.

There’s a lot of uncertainty about the future and Matthews has every right to have doubt based on how things went. Matthews is clear on what needs to be done to help get this team back to being a playoff contender. Both him and Nylander said that they believe in the team but need “dogs up front” and “mobile defenders”. Those are very fare demands as the Maple Leafs were extremely slow on the breakouts and need more players with a hounding mentality to support the skill they have. 

Matthews and the new management have to be on the same page and while that still leaves some doubt about his future, it’s the right move for him. He and his team are forcing them to make the necessary changes in order to get to the best result possible for both sides. He’s being honest about the team and if in the two years nothing has been done, then they can easily move him. 

Okay for McDavid, but Not for Matthews?

While this is playing out for Matthews, this is the exact same situation with Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers right now. He signed a two-year extension as a sign to say that you have a short window to turn things around after getting bowed out in the first round after two back-to-back Stanley Cup runs.  

There haven’t been as many trade proposals involving McDavid, but we’re already writing Matthews off as if he is for sure out the door? Both are in the same boat and are giving management an ultimatum, but it feels like Matthews isn’t being given his opportunity as there’s the doubt of him not even showing up in the fall. McDavid’s new contract is about to kick in and everyone’s letting that continue to play out, but Matthews is still in his current contract and it’s already escalated to “we don’t know if he’ll be back” territory?

The amount of trade speculation around Matthews is getting to the point where it’s getting annoying. Let’s all hear what happens with the meeting first and then plan going forward before we jump to the conclusion that Matthews wants out and doesn’t want any part of this team. You know the return for him will be substantial, but let’s not make this an end of the world scenario where everything is on the line. 

Let’s all just take a step back, take a deep breath, not have the whole doom and gloom scenario about Matthews’ future and let it play out as it could be something positive.