What’s Matthews Thinking About Now that He’s Out?

Thought Two: A Maple Leafs Legacy vs. Winning Soon

Then there’s legacy. Being the cornerstone of the Maple Leafs, an Original Six team, could be huge. He could carve his name into the franchise history books. That kind of pull isn’t small. We don’t know how important that is to him personally.

But if he’s thinking about winning now, about lifting the Stanley Cup sooner rather than later, the lure of Dallas is strong. It’s the classic tug-of-war: do you chase history and legacy where you are, or do you chase opportunity somewhere new? If he wants to become the absolutely best player and an NHL franchise, he’ll likely choose to stay in Toronto. He’ll never have that chance anywhere else.

Thought Three: Locker Room and Team Dynamics

Who’s in the locker room matters, too. With good friend Mitch Marner leaving for the Vegas Golden Knights last summer, things changed. Does that make Matthews feel more on his own, or does it free him to shape his own legacy? Is loyalty to the Maple Leafs still a factor, or does he feel it’s time for a new challenge?

With Marner gone and the Maple Leafs in the season they’re currently experiencing, huge changes have occurred. In some ways, Matthews has become the lightning rod for everything that’s wrong with this current team. Fair or not, fans are hugely critical of him as a captain and of his play. Factor in that kind of criticism, media scrutiny, and the weight of being the face of the franchise, and you can see why this isn’t a simple call.

Thought Four: A Glimpse of Freedom with Team USA

Matthews also got a little taste of a different kind of hockey at the Olympics with Team USA. Having served as the captain of Team USA must have had a personal impact on him. Did it make his home base in Toronto as an NHL player less of a draw? Does he feel more like an American now than he did before, and does that impact where he wants to stay?

In the U.S., hockey doesn’t carry the same weight as in Toronto. He can play the game, laugh with the guys, and still perform with the best. That kind of low-stress setting can stick with you—maybe he’s hoping for a bit of that in the NHL, somewhere a little less intense.

Five “What Ifs” that Matthews Is Probably Thinking About

There are also a number of pragmatic issues that affect his current relationship in Toronto. For example,

1. What if management and he aren’t on the same page? Do different coaches with different plans feel right?
2. What if the fans’ frustration is weighing on him? Toronto can be unforgiving. Is it weighing on him?
3. What if he wants less spotlight? Florida or Dallas would be easier.
4. How much does lifestyle and geography matter? He grew up in Arizona; maybe warmer weather and lower stress are appealing.
5. Did the Olympics reignite his hunger to move back to the United States?

As Matthews rehabs, these questions are all in his head. The choices he makes over the next few months could shape his career and the future of the Leafs. One thing’s clear—the hockey world is going to be watching every step.