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Leafs Front Office 2026-27 | Speculation, Discussion

And what are we doing at centre? Without Matthews we have *no* centres

(Maybe Tavares as a third line centre and obviously 4th line can be a role player)
 
Frank E said:
I'm reading that the Leafs are going to meet with him to convince their hesitant captain to return for this coming season...which he's already under contract for.

If Matthews was properly excited to lead the Leafs this coming season, I have to think his agent would be on Sportsnet suggesting that report was a bologne sandwich.
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Making him captain was another unforced Treliving error. There was absolutely nothing wrong with Tavares as captain.

Nothing about Matthews screamed out leader and that this needed to be done ASAP.

To be honest I was surprised that he was team USA's captain.
 
Joe S. said:
Making him captain was another unforced Treliving error. There was absolutely nothing wrong with Tavares as captain.

Nothing about Matthews screamed out leader and that this needed to be done ASAP.

To be honest I was surprised that he was team USA's captain.
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I wonder if they were trying to placate him because he seems to have been pissy pants under the Berube regime.
 
The last time anything like this about Matthews came out*, the coach flew to Arizona in the offseason and was subsequently replaced (in Arizona!) by November.

* nothing was sent through the media, merely the fact that Babcock was going to see Auston specifically as if that were a normal offseason thing.

Also, unless it’s clearly rebuild time, I don’t think it makes sense to trade out the one guy who was immune** to the bad coaching.

** yes, I know it was basically not following the coaching lol
 
Frank E said:
I think this is all crazy. Matthews is the captain of the team, but floating that he's contemplating a trade demand?

You're the leader of the team, supposedly, but you're threatening to leave even though you're under contract?

Guys, I don't think he can come back as captain from this. What's next, he comes back, they hit a rough patch, and he wants out again?

And if none of this stuff in the media was true, he'd be in front of a mic saying things like "This is all hogwash, I'm fully commited to this team, really excited we're picking first overall, can't wait to get back to work...blah blah..."

Honestly, if I'm the Leafs, I don't think there's much choice here but to move on. Does anyone want a captain that's only half in?
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I don't see him as threatening anything. At season's end he said he couldn't predict the future on what direction the team was heading. And how could he? What if the new GM wants to trade him? He didn't know that either. We still don't know what direction the team is moving in. Are they going to rebuild, retool? Both Nylander and Matthews have reportedly asked for a few heavy, “dog”-type forwards up front and two puck-moving defencemen.

How come no one is freaking out about Nylander saying he's not interested in staying if the team engages in a full rebuild, though he is open to a retool.
Kind of feels like both are of the same mindset yet no one talks about 88. Just that 34 wants out....well maybe.


So if they decide to rebuild, we can look at both leaving and I don't blame either one.
I prefer to wait and see what Mats and Chayka are planning first before worrying if 88 or 34 are staying.
 
Redleaf said:
I agree. And now the Leafs are in a great position to make this happen. Trade him for a high draft pick and draft the top notch defenseman we’ve been longing for for years to help built the team nucleus the proper way this time… with McKenna as the centrepiece
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what contending teams have had a player like McKenna (assuming he reaches his potential) as the centerpiece?

I don’t normally put much stock in the idea of fickle Leaf fans running their best players out of town, but… the few posts above sure do have the whiff of it.
 
If the Leafs do this really right, free McDavid joins the super team as Matthews re-ups for another couple of seasons

Cowan - McDavid - Nylander
Knies - Matthews - passer-Dawg
McKenna - Tavares - forecheck-Dawg
 
herman said:
If the Leafs do this really right, free McDavid joins the super team as Matthews re-ups for another couple of seasons

Cowan - McDavid - Nylander
Knies - Matthews - passer-Dawg
McKenna - Tavares - forecheck-Dawg
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I cannot even think about that possibility, but man if you are right...
 
herman said:
If the Leafs do this really right, free McDavid joins the super team as Matthews re-ups for another couple of seasons

Cowan - McDavid - Nylander
Knies - Matthews - passer-Dawg
McKenna - Tavares - forecheck-Dawg
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I can see McD going south. Clock is ticking in Edm, like T.O.
 
mr grieves said:
what contending teams have had a player like McKenna (assuming he reaches his potential) as the centerpiece?

I don’t normally put much stock in the idea of fickle Leaf fans running their best players out of town, but… the few posts above sure do have the whiff of it.
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I'd say Kucherov.
 
Guilt Trip said:
I don't see him as threatening anything. At season's end he said he couldn't predict the future on what direction the team was heading. And how could he? What if the new GM wants to trade him? He didn't know that either. We still don't know what direction the team is moving in. Are they going to rebuild, retool? Both Nylander and Matthews have reportedly asked for a few heavy, “dog”-type forwards up front and two puck-moving defencemen.

How come no one is freaking out about Nylander saying he's not interested in staying if the team engages in a full rebuild, though he is open to a retool.
Kind of feels like both are of the same mindset yet no one talks about 88. Just that 34 wants out....well maybe.


So if they decide to rebuild, we can look at both leaving and I don't blame either one.
I prefer to wait and see what Mats and Chayka are planning first before worrying if 88 or 34 are staying.
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Nylander isn't the team's captain, not even an alternate...and I don't read that Nylander is requesting a meeting with the GM.

I don't really care if they made playmates requests, and I say if because I haven't read anything about how GM Nylander and GM Matthews are making teammate requests.

Believe that I'm not worried about anything, what I'm suggesting here is that the optics of your captain wanting the GM to convince him to stay while still under contract for another 2 years is bananas.
 
Guilt Trip said:
I don't see him as threatening anything. At season's end he said he couldn't predict the future on what direction the team was heading. And how could he? What if the new GM wants to trade him? He didn't know that either. We still don't know what direction the team is moving in. Are they going to rebuild, retool? Both Nylander and Matthews have reportedly asked for a few heavy, “dog”-type forwards up front and two puck-moving defencemen.

How come no one is freaking out about Nylander saying he's not interested in staying if the team engages in a full rebuild, though he is open to a retool.
Kind of feels like both are of the same mindset yet no one talks about 88. Just that 34 wants out....well maybe.


So if they decide to rebuild, we can look at both leaving and I don't blame either one.
I prefer to wait and see what Mats and Chayka are planning first before worrying if 88 or 34 are staying.
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He's the captain of the team and has two years on an NMC. This is a softball question. No one is talking about Nylander because he never said anything about not wanting to come back next season and he's on a very long deal.
 
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Bender said:
He's the captain of the team and has two years on an NMC. This is a softball question. No one is talking about Nylander because he never said anything about not wanting to come back next season and he's on a very long deal.
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So what does Nylander saying he doesn't want to stick around if they're rebuilding mean?
And show me where Matthews said anything about not wanting to come back. He hasn't.
 
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