Toronto Maple Leafs

Good News: Auston Matthews Feels at Home with Maple Leafs

There’s good news for Toronto Maple Leafs’ fans after day one of training camp. Auston Matthews feels as if Toronto is home. Is it true?

by
Old Prof
September 22, 2022

There was some good news for Toronto Maple Leafs’ hockey fans yesterday. During interviews on the first day of training camp, Auston Matthews was quite effervescent (and positive) when he was asked about Toronto.

Specifically, he was quizzed about a potential new contract, which would be coming in two years. He avoided comments about the contract, but noted that “I really love playing in the city of Toronto, I consider it home now.”

Speculation Was that Matthews Was Sure to Leave

That’s good news for those who want Matthews to stay with the Maple Leafs, which should be almost everyone I would think. And it’s more positive than Maple Leafs’ fans have dared to have hoped in a while.

The word was that Matthews was “sure to leave.” Specifically, he’d bolt to warmer climes in Arizona where he lives, and sign on with the Arizona Coyotes where he could live and play at home. That would make sense; and, in truth, it would be silly to think that Matthews probably hasn’t thought about it. If I were him, I would at least consider such a move. Who wouldn’t?

"I really love playing in the city of Toronto, I consider it home now."

Auston Matthews was talking about his love for the city because he was being asked about his contract, which expires in two seasons. #Leafs https://t.co/pslVdioms6
— Toronto Star Sports (@StarSports) September 21, 2022

But, perhaps Matthews has a different sense of “home” than we thought. Or, at the least, he has an expanded sense of home. And that would make sense. Sometimes, it’s better to have two homes than one.

Still, if yesterday’s comment is to be taken seriously, Matthews might not even be thinking about leaving Toronto. If he had a sense of hockey history, there would have to be some attraction to want to stay in one of the centers of the Canadian hockey universe – Toronto.

No One Knows What Matthews’ Intentions Are

Obviously, no one other than Matthews himself knows what his plans are; or, even if he has plans. And, this is the first time he’s weighed in on the issue. Wisely, he hadn’t spoken with anyone in the media or let on how he felt.

All we can know is that Matthews is happy in Toronto. Sometimes people love one home and also choose to move to another.

Auston Matthews, Maple Leafs (Rookie Card)

Truthfully, there’s nothing to be made “policy-wise” from Matthews’ comments. In other words, his comments spell out nothing in terms of what will or might really happen. All it is was the kind of answer that anyone who’s looking forward to starting another season might say.

Still, it isn’t bad news at all to hear Matthews speak in terms of Toronto as “home.”