[Mirtle] “I think the Auston Matthews math is not great already; I think he really wants to see in the offseason what’s going on here and how [the Leafs think they’re] gonna turn this around…I think that’s where it’s at”

35 comments

  1. I’m so tired of all these reports now trying to fracture Matthews’ relationship with the team…. I think they are just driving clicks

  2. “wants to see in the offseason what’s going on and how they’re gonna turn this around”

    In other news, water is wet

  3. So he doesn’t wanna stick around if the team doesn’t do anything and remains ass? Oh wow.

  5. It seems so obvious to me, just get a new GM and coach and don’t just look for the nearest available member of the “200 hockey men”

  8. Outside of the fact that a lot of media seem to be trying to force a split if this is a true report the narrative is absolutely hilarious 

    Matthews is our highest paid player and second highest in the entire league. He is done for the season now but he is 36th for goals and 73rd for points.  He is 4th on our own team for points and Willy is 10 up on him in 8 fewer games 

    He wants to know what the team is doing to be better next year?  I don’t know go stand in front of a mirror bro

    Getting kind of tired of the Matthews and Marner shtick where they want huge league leading salaries to be the guy and then wait around for the rest of the team to carry them 

  9. Reading between the lines, to me, this is as clear as it can be that he’s not happy with the current situation and if I had to guess, it starts with the coach and ends with the GM. This is as clear a “make changes to the decision makers or I am out” as I have seen without actually saying it.

    He hasn’t been near the same and has been asked to play very differently than the past and it’s boring, unproductive and taxing on the body. He may also have been struggling with injuries the past two years but his deployment by Berube is telling. The stats don’t lie.

  13. The thing is, some onus is on Matthews here too. The Leafs can’t decide their path forward without clarity on Matthews’ future health and performance. Can/will he be a superstar again, or are the last two seasons more representative of what he now is permanently?

  14. This is tough. On one hand I want to say “it starts with you, Auston”, because we need more passion from him. On the other hand, I totally respect he is the Greatest we have ever had. He is our best player. Some will come and say he has been awful the last couple years, but let’s not pretend like his ceiling isn’t by far the highest on this team to be impactful game in and game out.

    Two things can be true: we need more from Auston if we are going to succeed, and he is our best player!

  15. I mean, this is the level of conversation *most* star caliber players consistently have with their team as they want to remain competitive, but here for some reason it is reported on as though there is division.

    Every NHL team is constantly trying to ice a competitive hockey team, so they can win, but also so their good players are attracted to stay, so that they can *continue* to win.

    This is not report-worthy news, and not indicative of some rift, its just the business of the NHL.

    “Good player wants to play for competitive team that isnt rudderless, more at 11”

    Like no shit dude. Thats not drama.

  16. Nothing wrong with Matthews that a change in coaching wouldn’t cure. If you plan on keeping Berube, then trade Matthews because it’s a waste of 13 million. Sorry.

  17. I mean Matthews needs to turn himself around to be honest. He had a horrible season, Berube should be fired as well but ultimately Matthews needs to start proving he can win as the franchise player he is paid to be.

  18. Is it just me or has Mirtle had some of the worst takes since Christmas?
    Dude just posts whatever flys into his head and calls it a scoop. 🤦🏻‍♂️

  19. If you want to truly rebuild, trade Matthews and actually get something from him. Dude is gonna walk away to a US team in free agency in 2028. Zero chance he resigns in Toronto. You’re delusional if you think he will. Trade him now and get draft capital for him or else it’s gonna be a Marner 2.0 situation. This team is not turning around in the next 2 seasons anyways so might as well get something from Matthews

  21. He’s signed for 5 more years. I don’t know what the media is trying to do in Toronto. They’re generating stories out of nothing for clicks. For some reason we have one of the most hostile media personnel surrounding the leafs.

    Other players have already mentioned similar cases in previous years of great teams missing the playoffs and bouncing back. If you can’t handle the ups and downs of professional hockey, you’re likely not a fit.

  25. What’s going on is him and his buddies took max $$ w/o Term so they could keep going back to the well and depleting the team’s coffers so they could never build around the core four with anything more than Fringe NHLers and soon to retire former stars. That meant they went as far as he and his buds were going to take them.

    Go look at his playoff scoring the last 9 years in big games. That’s what’s going on.

    At least McDavid can look and say hey man I’ve put the puck in the net, I authored comebacks from being down 0-3 by breaking some of Gretzky’s records… What’s Matthews going to say ???

    Here’s the ugly truth:

    They waited too long to break up the cour four – That’s a Shanny problem. Time to do it was Post Columbus or post Montreal.

    They never salvaged the Marner relationship after the $10.6 mil contract – That’s a Shanny problem, he was never gonna re-sign and Tre had no leverage to get anything back

    They can’t rebuild because they have no assets, no draft capital, no prospects and nobody to trade – That’s a Tre & Dubas porblem

    If they committ to a re-tool – they have no assets to trade, no picks to bring anyone in. Anyone they draft will not be ready to help until 4-5 years. If they don’t improve Matthews is gone, like Mitch, in a no leverage situation, no ROI. That’s a Tre problem

    Nuclear Solution: Trade Matthews now – his value declines moving forward, a sign and trade could net the picks and assets to start the rebuild. Morgan Rielly follows. Pick a goalie, trade the other play Hildby trade him when the new kid is ready. Build around Cowan and Knies and your new goalie. Tavares and Nylander there to take pressure off the kids.

    Sit tight/Status Quo / Re-tool: Say all is well. Act surprised next year when Matthews leaves and you are trading him August for a 4th line center (He might be at his age then willing to do a 8 yr sign and trade). Sit empty handed and realize you can’t rebuild around Nylander and have no draft picks coming in…

  27. There’s absolutely no reason to bring him back for the last 13 games of a season that’s basically lost. Most players now are playing for contracts or positions for next year. He needs to heal. As far as his motives for not coming back, that’s all BS and hearsay. And that’s what the sports and entertainment industry loves to thrive on, is BS and hearsay.

  28. I honestly think that after the past 10 years, it will just be better for everyone all around to shake hands and say no hard feelings and part ways. We all need change at this point. I think anyone who thinks that he truly bleeds blue and loves being a Leaf is lying to themselves.

    People here will say “enjoy another 100 years without a generational player then”. I honestly don’t care. Will we find another player as talented as him? Maybe yes, maybe no. But we haven’t won anything with him, and change for the sake of change is a risk I’m willing to take.

  29. Yeah the construction of the team did not play out. Yes there style of play is a real challenge.

    Please let’s not forget that Matthews and Nylander are elite talents. JT as a 3rd line center who can play up in the lineup is pretty dang good. Knies is better than what he showed. McCabe and Carlo are better than what we have been treated to this year.

    There are three possible goalies that can play in the NHL, and two decent under 25 players on the forward group in Cowan and Robertson – the latter I believe should be traded.
    There are solid pieces here and Management has a tough job to work with a few assets.

    This year is a wash. Accept it and then build from there.

  30. Not gonna lie I’d do the same thing. Team is spiraling and has no clear plan. People in charge are complete morons. Matthews has zero connection to Toronto apart from being drafted here. 

  31. Whatever is going on extends far past the game.

    Marner was an excellent canary in the coal mine as he gave a pitiful “wake the fuck up” in the last game as a leaf.

    Matthew’s hit was the absolute nail in the coffin on that discussion but even Knies checking Domi let us know there are big problems behind the scenes.

  32. Anyone else tired of this narrative when a big part of the leafs problem is Matthews regression? He’s part of the core that couldn’t put it together in big moments for like 9 years and now seems to have a chronic condition that frankly makes him overpaid.

  33. They’ve been driving this narrative since he scored 4 goals against the sens in his first game. First it was an offersheet from the coyotes, Then he was gonna “leave for AZ as a UFA” 10 minutes after he signed his first extension, Then after his 3rd contract, Then the coyotes moved and he was gonna leave for LA. He might fucking leave but none of these people deserve an ounce of credit for getting it right on the fourth try.

  34. I’m for a Quinn Hughes like package for him if things don’t go well next year.

    I simply cannot see how the Leafs can assemble a better team then they had in the past five years.

    Our DCore is ancient and slow, we have no prospects or young players and the free agent crop is pathetic.

  35. He’s definitely leaving. Who wouldn’t want a fresh start after so many disappointing and heart breaking runs and just the insane media and expectations.

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