TORONTO (May 12) — The Maple Leafs had better win the Stanley Cup this year.

Only a championship, for the first time in 58 springs, could justify one of the most–egregious decisions in modern franchise history: Ripping the captain’s ‘C’ off John Tavares and bequeathing it, without merit, upon Auston Matthews. Merely weeks after Keith Pelley, the CEO of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, lamely told reporters the company wasn’t in the business of “selling jerseys.” Precisely why, then, did the tall thinkers at Bay and Lakeshore elect to humiliate Tavares in the final year of his $77 million contract; then anoint an individual who couldn’t lead ducks to a pond? Why else? To move as many Matthews jerseys with the letter affixed to the upper–left corner. A verdict that, clearly, did not result from the Scottsdale native emulating Sidney Crosby once the playoff stakes increase. Heck, No. 34 wouldn’t have outgunned Sidney Poitier after mid–April. That’s how routinely he disappears when the Leafs need him most. As is happening now — again — for a ninth consecutive year.

With two goals in 10 playoff games, Matthews is scoring at a regular–season pace of 16 goals. Neither has he fooled Sergei Bobrovsky even once in nine Stanley Cup encounters with Florida — all games in the second round.

Yet, this is the player that somehow warranted degredeation of a local kid who followed his dream to one day skate for the Leafs… then became the club’s true example of dignity and dependability. For no viable reason other than to “sell jerseys” did someone — and that person will never be identified — spark the notion of transfering the captaincy to Mr. November. “Hey, Tavares is done after next season; let’s get the financial ball rolling with Auston,” said a person of influence (pick a name) in the MLSE pyramid. “John’s a nice guy. We can get him to play along with the charade. And, just think how Auston will respond to this public display of confidence. That letter, alone, will turn him into our leader.” Can you imagine the sneaky grins, especially after the ever–graceful Tavares agreed to smile for the historic news conference — literally handing his captain’s jersey to the conqueror–in–waiting.

Could MLSE possibly look more ridiculous than it does right now? With Matthews shriveling on cue, like flower petals after dark? It’s just so Leaf–ian what appears to be evolving against the Panthers in this Eastern Conference semifinal — the club and it’s ice commander retreating to the shadows as the Stanley Cup furnace heats up. How else to explain three goals in 15 matches (one in the past eight) dating to last spring?

Oh yeah… the annual playoff injury. I nearly forgot.

Remember when Auston flew to the Black Forest last summer for a second opinion on a medical anomaly? There’s the answer: a season–long malady that compromised his directional awareness. Incapable of hitting a target, he plummeted from 69 to 33 goals. Makes sense, doesn’t it? That’s what the army of Auston apologists in the media would have you believe. What no one has been able to explain, however, is how Matthews “paused” the injury for nine days, in an American jersey, during the 4Nations Face–Off, Feb. 12–20. Which he nearly annexed in overtime of the decisive match against Canada, thereby being named the tournament’s most–valuable player.

Alas, Auston zigged when he should have zagged in the defensive zone, turning away from Connor McDavid on the series–winning goal. Still, he’d been a menace for the United States throughout the event, which also featured teams from Sweden and Finland. Did the injury recur after Auston landed at Pearson Airport to rejoin the Leafs?

Again, none of the captain’s media accolytes can properly explain. Heck, I remember a smiling Chris Johnston standing alongside TSN colleague Mark Masters and affirming to viewers, on the eve of the Stanley Cup tournament, that Matthews was “healthy as he’s been all season.” That, from one of the “insiders”. So, what happened, Chris? Did Auston fall down the stairs at home? Sleep clumsily on his hand and wrist? There must be an answer.

But, back to the hockey warlords at MLSE.

When Matthews came up typically feeble against Florida in the 2023 playoffs, putting an exclamation mark on his career–long pattern, the Leafs had a viable option. Given some ingenuity and circumspection, they could have found a way to move forward without Auston, who is undoubtedly the smallest big–game performer in Leaf annals.

But, more–important factors interceded, including the MLSE “star appeal” fascination and, yes, the copious peddling of those No. 34 jerseys with the letter ‘C’ at $250 a pop. Who cares if the guy can’t hit the broad side of a barn during the playoffs? It’s all about the bottom line. So, let’s give Auston the most money of anyone in the league. That’ll show ’em.  As does the stubborn and petty decision, in the face of increasing public ridicule, to ensure that iconic radio broadcasters Joe Bowen and Jim Ralph are not with the club on the road during the Cup chase. Again, you wonder if MLSE tries to look featherbrained? Or, if doing so is simply the company’s DNA.

The silly part is that all of this can be undone with one big playoff performance. At Scotiabank Arena on Wednesday night in the now–pivotal Game 5 against the Panthers. That’s how instantly forgiving and forgetful Leafs Nation becomes when its hero sporadically rises to the moment. Auston has that opportunity once more.

Would anyone out there wager a plug–nickel?

FROM THE VAULT… THE “MISSING LINK”

In my collection of NHL media guides, there was a large void pertaining to the Philadelphia Flyers. Until this week, I had every Philly guide from the club’s inception through the 2008–09 season. Except for its second–ever item, in 1968–69, which I kept tabs of on eBay until the price became negotiable. It arrived the other day (front cover, above) and completed the Flyers collection (below) through 1974–75, after the first of consecutive Stanley Cup titles under Fred Shero.

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