Matthews Message To Maple Leafs Got Lost in Recent Weeks

There’s been and will continue to be chatter about Auston Matthews and his future with the Toronto Maple Leafs. However, somewhere along the way, the message got lost about what it is he really wants. Some believe he’s looking to see drastic improvement this summer or he’s out. That’s likely not the case at all.

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Several insiders have started to walk back suggestions that Matthews might have played his final game in Toronto, even though he’s not said anything new publicly. Matthews hasn’t come out and done another interview to say he’s staying. He hasn’t said he’s leaving. The team hasn’t gotten new players or made any big moves since hiring new management and firing the coach.

Still, the sky is falling picture that so many painted isn’t nearly as bleak as it once was.

Nick Alberga of Leafs Morning Take posted, “@TheFourthPeriod has been all over this Matthews situation for weeks now. In short, it’s unlikely he’s going anywhere this summer. He likes playing in Toronto, he wants to win in Toronto. Like any star player, he just wants to know what the plan is. Along the way, the messaging got misconstrued. Matthews’ camp has been trying to clarify some of the reporting in recent weeks.”

Darren Dreger also added the latest he’s heard, which is that conversations have been had between the Maple Leafs and Matthews and that he’s just looking to see improvement, and shared some of how he sees the team and where it can get better. He’s aware that the to-do list is long and that a new GM is going to struggle to get everything done that needs done.

Between finding a coach, filling out the front office (to which Dreger wasn’t sure John Chayka had even met everyone yet), to player changes, and figuring out who to draft at No. 1, expecting him to tackle everything by July isn’t realistic. Matthews isn’t looking for that to get done before he decides what he’s doing.

He just wants to know what the plan is, and wants to see that the Maple Leafs are working toward making the changes required.

Matthews is bought in with the Maple Leafs. He wants to win in Toronto and he’s not looking to leave. None of that has changed. It likely only does if the Maple Leafs show no signs of trying to get better or embracing some kind of rebuild, which almost everyone is aware they aren’t going to do.

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