Auston Matthews holds more power than the next Maple Leafs GM as the front office wreckage begins to clear
Photo credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
Pierre LeBrun reports Auston Matthews will play a huge role in determining if Toronto rebuilds or retools — with Keith Pelley having spoken with Matthews since the Treliving firing.
What he decides comes next may be the most important conversation in Maple Leafs history.
Having let go of general manager Brad Treliving on Monday, the Toronto Maple Leafs have begun to shift their focus to next season, and having Matthews move their plans forward.
Auston Matthews will play a key factor in the Toronto Maple Leafs future as Pierre LeBrun reports the Leafs captain will dictate the direction of the team.
Matthews will play a part in deciding if the team goes through a rebuild or a retooling, a move that may not only reshape the Leafs, but put in place the future of Auston Matthews as a Maple Leaf into question.
MLSE CEO Keith Pelley didn't answer during a press conference Tuesday following Treliving's dismissal if Matthews played a part in the decision to part ways, but says that he spoken with Matthews since.
Auston Matthews' future hangs over what the Leafs future plans are
The Toronto Maple Leafs could look at some serious changes if their goal is a full rebuild rather than making a planned quick turnaround this offseason.
A full rebuild could see a player like Matthews moved out in order to commit to changing the team, and putting Matthews on a short-term contender.
Two seasons from a Rocket Richard-winning 69 goals and 107 points, but injuries over the last two seasons have limited Matthews to just 60 goals over the last two seasons, and just 27 goals and 53 points this season in 60 games.
Toronto, seventh in the Atlantic with a 32-30-13 record and 77 points, are nearing a playoff elimination for the first time since 2016 and considering their next era deeply.
What this new era could entail, however, will likely come down less to what Matthews wants, and what the Leafs front office deems best.
What direction do the Leafs go in next season?
The Toronto Maple Leafs aren't revealing their plans for next season while this season still comes to its conclusion, but what is clear is that this offseason will come with major changes either way.
Logic would indicate that the Leafs goal is to retool rather than rebuild, focusing on building further around a hopefully healthy Matthews and Nylander, but that will depend on if MLSE deems a Cup run next season as feasible.
Financially, continuing on the path of contention is the more practical move for MLSE. It would also be of note that Florida, below Toronto in the standings, have shown no indication of considering a rebuild themselves.
If the Leafs were to go into a rebuild, it would be because the team doesn't view this core as able to get over the hump into true contention territory, which still has not been the indications coming out of Toronto.
Even if MLSE commits to a rebuild, what may impact the Leafs most is what Auston Matthews says. If his goal is to leave Toronto, that could open the floodgates to a full rebuild, despite their interests.
Matthews holds all the cards, but whether he deals the Maple Leafs a good hand is anybody's guess.
Also read on Hockey Patrol :
Chris Pronger puts the Maple Leafs on notice with his strict conditions for the MLSE to join the front office
Chris Pronger puts the Maple Leafs on notice with his strict conditions for the MLSE to join the front office
| POLL | ||
AVRIL 1|1244 ANSWERS Auston Matthews holds more power than the next Maple Leafs GM as the front office wreckage begins to clear Should Auston Matthews be part of the Leafs GM search? | ||
| Yes | 357 | 28.7 % |
| No | 887 | 71.3 % |
| List of polls | ||