3 Reasons Matthews Could Leave the Toronto Maple Leafs

Adam Proteau’s latest column for The Hockey News asks the question every Maple Leafs fan wants answered: Why wouldn’t Auston Matthews want to stay?

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On the surface, Proteau makes a compelling case. TSN’s Mike Johnson — who spoke about Matthews on TSN’s Overdrive show Tuesday — insists Matthews genuinely likes living and playing in Toronto. The organization has done its best to shield its captain from the media circus for a decade, and Johnson says the heavy media attention doesn’t really even bother Matthews all that much.

All the while, Proteau argues Matthews would rather be part of a re-tooled Leafs squad than demand out and damage his legacy the way Mitch Marner did. Not to mention, a new front office is coming after Brad Treliving’s firing, and no incoming GM wants to be remembered as the executive who traded the greatest goal-scorer in franchise history.

At 28, with a full summer to heal from his knee injury, Matthews can reboot and chase the playoff success that has eluded him.

Not everyone agreed with Proteau’s take.

3 Reasons Matthews Would Want to Leave Toronto

One comment pointed out three very specific reasons Matthews might be ready to try something new. They wrote: “I’ll give you three… Toronto Media, Toronto Fans, Current Toronto coach.”

That blunt reply discounts Johnson’s take that the media isn’t affecting Matthews. In fact, this person believes it’s playing a major role in the captain’s happiness. Yes, the Leafs’ PR staff has protected Matthews, the sheer volume of Toronto coverage still creates a pressure cooker unlike anywhere else in the league.

The fans who once worshipped him have grown restless and his game is being impacted. The seemingly attribute part of the lackluster 27-goal season to the “heat” that reportedly doesn’t bother Matthews.

Of course, there is the uncertainty around the coaching situation. The current coaching staff’s inability to get the most out of him has created a situation where the GM is now gone, the team has hired a search firm to bring in new management, Craig Berube is on the hot seat, and a meeting with Matthews this summer is a high priority item on the to-do list.

Of Course, Matthews Has To Decide If He Can Win in Toronto

The next GM and head coach will inherit more than cap space and draft picks; they’ll inherit skepticism from the team’s best player. Keith Pelley has promised a quick retool, but words alone aren’t likely enough. Matthews has decide if he believes what he’s hearing and seeing.

With a full no-movement clause and two years left on his deal, he doesn’t have to go anywhere. Yet if the new regime shows it’s no more suitable to take this team where it needs to go than the last, the “devil you know” starts looking a lot less appealing.

The new brass must sit down with Matthews, lay out a clear vision, and prove they’re fixing the very three things the commenter flagged. Because if they don’t, the question won’t be “Why wouldn’t Matthews want to stay?” It will become “Why would he?”

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