Auston Matthews and John Chayka still have not met and Maple Leafs fans deserve answers
Photo credit: Morgan Tencza-Imagn Images
Auston Matthews and John Chayka have yet to meet to discuss what the future holds for the captain and with no clue to what's going on - fans deserve transparency.
There's been no meeting still between John Chayka and Auston Matthews and the clock is ticking. With a list of demands and several questions for the Maple Leafs GM, the captain is not going to take too kindly to being ignored, and the fan anxiety grows heavier with each passing day.
Every other captain in the NHL whose team hired a new GM this offseason has already had their meeting and Chayka is the only one still waiting.
We reported previously that the Maple Leafs really hadn't prioritized their very important meeting with Auston Matthews and that the team was focused on the future of Brandon Pridham. Well, with him out of town now after mutually parting ways, we can now hope that the Maple Leafs turn their attention to their leader.
So now that there's time for the team to focus solely on Matthews and his potential laundry list of demands, all we can look forward to is what happens when all is said and done.
The meeting with John Chayka and Auston Matthews should have happened two weeks ago and there's still no scheduled date
That is, if we get any answers whatsoever.
Right now, the Maple Leafs are doing their worst when it comes to being honest with their fans as to what's going on with Auston Matthews. Chayka's interview during the aftermath of the Craig Berube firing was only focused on the former coach with all questions deflected - including ones about a meeting.
Fans are sick and tired of the lack of transparency with the Maple Leafs and we thought that Chayka and Mats Sundin would provide a lot more clarity. But it's been radio silent as to when there's a prospective date for their scheduled meeting, and the more we don't hear details then the more frustrated we'll be.
Why this wasn't already scheduled long in advance is weird and while there's obviously a reason for the delay given that Chayka had a ton of other work to do beforehand; if he knew his timeline then just have the meeting set up.
He fired Craig Berube, then let Shane Doan, Derek Clancey, and Pridham all part ways. That's four people in two weeks, and it's clear they had a game plan to implement. But doing so without having Matthews scheduled already in that planner is a weird oversight given its importance.
Time is the biggest enemy for the Maple Leafs and each passing day costs Chayka leverage
It's great that Chayka wants to get his ducks in a row beforehand but he can't let this go too much longer. The more he waits to get his plan figured out, we've still got Matthews sitting at home twiddling his thumbs and wondering what the hold up is.
You want to get Matthews' demands as early as possible because if you continue on not knowing what he wants, how in the heck are you going to appease him or acquiesce to his needs? Patience is a virtue yes, but there's a fine line between waiting for time or wasting time.
If we wait another two weeks to hear word about a meeting with Matthews and Chayka, we're getting closer and closer to July 1 - which is the captain's deadline date. How can Matthews feel like he wants to commit if he cannot to get a face to face meeting with his own GM? That's just purely bad business.
Every other captain has pretty much met with their new GMs right away or within at least a two week timeframe, but there's still just questions upon questions with regard to Chayka and Matthews.
Yes, there's issues with travel and getting everyone together but this is a billion-dollar organization who is trying to keep their captain in town...you'd think that could get figured out.
Father Time is a dangerous beast. On one hand, he can offer you all the advantages and leverage to make the right decision. On the flip side, he cares for no man and can ruthlessly take away precious minutes, hours, and days away.
John Chayka has to hope that his patience isn't a liability and that his meeting with Matthews happens before time passes him by.
Also read on Hockey Patrol :
The Boston coach who suffocated Auston Matthews for years is now a Maple Leafs candidate
The Boston coach who suffocated Auston Matthews for years is now a Maple Leafs candidate
Previously on Hockey Patrol