The Body Of The Toronto Maple Leafs Isn't Even Cold Yet, And The Auston Matthews Trade Rumors Are Already Flowing
Vaughn Ridley. Getty Images.He's the greatest goal scorer in the history of the Toronto Maple Leafs. He broke Mats Sundin record in 300 fewer games. He's worn the C. He completely revitalized that organization. Auston Matthews has been the face of the Leafs for a decade at this point.
Technically speaking, the Leafs' season is still alive. They are 10 points out of a playoff spot with only 9 games remaining, but the dog shit Rangers are the only team in the Eastern Conference that are technically eliminated from playoff contention. The Leafs still have 9 games to play this season, but the biggest story in Toronto right now is whether or not Auston Matthews has already played his final game in a Maple Leafs sweater.
I don't know Howard Berger from a cheeseburger, but I'm going to trust his source on this one. Without a shred of hesitation or doubt, I am going to believe ALMOST everything this man's source has to say. I would like to add that there's still a chance Auston Matthews ends up in Philadelphia, so that's the only note I would add to his source's intel. But the rest of it makes a ton of sense.
For starters, why would Auston Matthews want to stay in Toronto? Upon his return from the Olympics, he was relentlessly attacked by the media in Toronto. Then just a few games into his return, he takes a brutal cheap shot to the knee and has to writhe in pain on the ice as his teammates do absolutely nothing about it. The media sucks, his teammates suck, and the Leafs haven't made it beyond the 2nd round of the playoffs since 2002.
He's an Arizona kid, so it would make sense he would want to end up back on the West Coast. He could go to the Kings where he would fill in for Anze Kopitar retiring. He could go play for an exciting young team with the Ducks, who are filled with a bunch of American superstars. Or he could go play for his childhood franchise who ended up relocating to Utah, and link back up with Clayton Keller.
The idea that the Toronto Maple Leafs could lose Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews in back-to-back offseasons is just too sweet to pass up. Obviously they'll get a massive haul in return for Matthews, unlike just losing Marner to free agency. But I don't care who you're getting back in return. You're not replacing the greatest goal scorer in the history of your franchise and the captain of your team via trade.
Go Leafs Go!