Chris Pronger warns the Maple Leafs must trade Auston Matthews if he refuses to 'win at all costs’
Photo credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
Chris Pronger appeared on TSN's OverDrive and was blunt in what Toronto needs to do: Trade Auston Matthews if he doesn't completely commit no matter what.
There's been a lot of talk recently about Chris Pronger and the Maple Leafs. He's been on every show known to man recently and his focus has been solely on Toronto, but more specifically their captain — Auston Matthews.
It started with him being bewildered at the team's lack of response when Matthews went down, into a potential relationship as a Team President who can help build around the leader, but now it's become a straight up ultimatum.
Matthews issued a brazen ultimatum by Chris Pronger — Are you in or out?
Pronger appeared on TSN's OverDrive and explained that the issue with Toronto is that everything runs through #34 and until they get a clearer idea of his commitment levels they are left in the dark:
Everything runs through Matthews. It's his team. Now, you have to see where he is when it comes to his next contract. Can you convince him to stay? If so, then you have to win at all costs and he will need to decide what he feels is best.
Right now, Toronto needs to kind of force his hand into giving them a decision one way or another, and then they can figure out what to do next.
But If he's not signing you may as well blow it up. If he's leaving, that's fine but you gotta get something for him.
Right now, Toronto needs to kind of force his hand into giving them a decision one way or another, and then they can figure out what to do next.
But If he's not signing you may as well blow it up. If he's leaving, that's fine but you gotta get something for him.
Wow, that's a pretty bold statement all things considered. Pronger calling out Matthews' heart and passion for winning with the team is the exact interrogation techniques that Toronto has lacked. Be up front and genuinely just ask 'what do you want?'
This is your captain, if he's not being clear with you then that's a massive red flag that needs immediate addressing.
Trading Auston Matthews would be the ultimate sign that things have changed
I know I am stating the obvious but seriously take a second to think. You know that Toronto has undergone a complete philosophical and tonal shift. Loyalty is now a bonus, not a mandatory aspect and it's no longer about ticket sales; it's winning.
In essentially pleading for Toronto to expedite a deal with Matthews or even expedite talks, Pronger is trying to save the Maple Leafs from themselves. Matthews is an often injured shell of his former self.
At $13.25-million that salary could be better split among two or three very skilled players.
Whoever comes in as GM could also be inheriting a team without Matthews and it would allow them to have a clean slate with a boatload of cap space, and a lot of assets to work with.
For an organization that boasted so heavily about implementing real change, there's no bigger one than Matthews — and it all depends on how he feels.
Also read on Hockey Patrol :
Peter DeBoer just showed why he should be the next Maple Leafs coach without even mentioning Toronto once
Peter DeBoer just showed why he should be the next Maple Leafs coach without even mentioning Toronto once
Previously on Hockey Patrol
| POLL | ||
AVRIL 2|1653 ANSWERS Chris Pronger warns the Maple Leafs must trade Auston Matthews if he refuses to 'win at all costs’ Should Toronto trade Auston Matthews? | ||
| Yes | 1186 | 71.7 % |
| No | 467 | 28.3 % |
| List of polls | ||