TORONTO (Apr. 19) — If you hang around this website for any length of time, you’ll understand the snippet of information that most intrigued me amid the baseless, robotic jargon of locker–cleanout day at Scotiabank Arena.

Now and forever, it seems, a rite of early spring for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

It related in no way to the chanting of Kumbaya as the players reaffirmed their unconditional affection for each other, openly advocating for a reunion in September. Whether any such desires were sealed with a kiss, I do not know. We heard, yet again, about all the “great guys in the room”, of how essential it is to rise up and “stick together through adversity” and to play for “the ultimate goal, a championship.” Anyone digesting a recent plate of food would have thrown up all over the press lounge. Then, there was the captain. Unlike the captain we have seen or heard since John Tavares was forced aside nearly two years ago. At the beginning of his media palaver, Auston Matthews clicked the ingrown “PLAY” button and spat out his usual irrationale. Not that he was inundated with contentious and demanding queries. Most were the typical soft lobs until someone with bone density inquired about Auston’s future with the Leafs. It was an adroit question given that Matthews could not fall back on the “it’s up to management” pretext. No key personnel decisions with the Leafs are ever the domain of people holding managerial titles. They are routinely diverted to players that cannot perform after mid–April — No. 34 heading the queue. Yet, during a moment of unusual candor from Auston came an epiphamy: that after a decade of playoff misadventure with the same nucleus, perhaps there’s a slim chance things won’t work out in a Toronto jersey… and that he could not “predict his fate” with the rebuilding hockey club. Even if that call is largely his to make.

As I’ve written a trillion times in this space, no scenario in Leafs Land can possibly usurp a Matthews divorce. If it isn’t crystal–clear to you, by now, that neither player nor team will move forward under the current arrangement, sniff some Ammonia. The people chosen to preside over and manage the hockey club are impertinent. Only a change of scenery can unshackle each side. For several years, now, hockey fans in this city have predicted that Matthews will defect to an American–based team after his current pact expires in July 2028. As I posted, here, on Mar. 25 (https://bit.ly/4rVJFwj), a good hockey source firmly contended that Auston will be elsewhere by puck–drop of next season. Thereby transfering the final two years of no contract control (and a $13.25 million cap hit) to a rival club. Now that the player has cracked open the door, this possibility escalates. Enormously, in my view.

The easy reaction would be “nah, he ain’t going anywhere.” As forecast by Terry Koshan in the Toronto Sun. Nearly a year after Terry was certain Mitch Marner could not possibly defect. This is where partisanship gets in the way of good reporting. Which Koshan has otherwise long provided the tabloid newspaper. Neither would Terry be alone in such unwavering disbelief. Many of his colleagues in the mainstream media still contend that Matthews is somehow Stanley Cup–worthy. That the Leafs need to “prove to him” they are serious about moving forward. Even if it’s obvious that he’s been the prime culprit, when the stakes begin to mushroom, in holding back the club. All Auston needs is a fourth coach; a fifth new GM… and maybe one more decade. So, let’s not be unreasonable.

From the player’s perspective, I haven’t heard a syllable indicating that he would fight extradition. Have you? Neither, until this week, had Matthews hinted at dabbling with his no–movement clause. Now, it appears that both scenarios are open to discussion. If incredulous, use your own perspective to convince me why Matthews — born in California; raised in Arizona and always happiest while playing internationally — would insist on remaining in the crummy Toronto circumstance. If he were to fall back on loyalty, then where has it disappeared to when most needed by the Maple Leafs and their fans? Where was his conviction while the Leafs were getting rag–dolled at home in Games 5 and 7 against the Florida Panthers last May? Why hasn’t he scored a single goal in a half–dozen winner–take–all clashes? Where was the committment in virtually all big, emotional encounters during the past regular season (including Edmonton’s lone visit to Scotiabank Arena; shouldn’t facing off against Connor McDavid  evoke some form of response?). Above all, why would Auston flatly refuse transfer to a warm. U.S.–based location… and, likely, a much–improved chance to compete for the big prize (if that interests him)?

My friend, Rosie DiManno, again called Matthews a “generational talent” in the Toronto Star this week. Shouldn’t a decent playoff resume dictate such a compliment? Rather than no resume at all? Rosie thinks I cover the Maple Leafs “hysterically”, yet she’s never tossed me a bone for my near–100% accuracy toward Matthews since 2021.

Will DiManno, like others, dine forever on those 69 goals — meaningless though they became after another opening–round defeat (against Tampa Bay)? How much more stale does this circumstance need to become before someone at Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment wakes up? The Leafs, four seasons ago, accrued 115 points. This season: 78. A mere 37–point decline. Ottawa finished 42 points behind the Leafs during that post–pandemic schedule. And, 21 points ahead of Toronto this year? How can any Leaf supporter account for a 63–point swingl?

By swearing more allegiance to the captain? And, vise versa?

Matthews had always been a good, regular–season performer with the Leafs. After which, of course, he retreated to the shadows. Now, Auston seems too bothered to care about the 82–game portion of the schedule.

All of this, however, is moot if MLSE, through Keith Pelley, has insisted to potential managers that retaining Matthews is a condition of employment. Thereby rendering that person a puppet, rather than allowing him/her to assess the club and make desired changes. If peripheral economics (jersey sales, etc.) in any way dictates the search for a GM to replace Brad Treliving, the Leafs are doomed. Indefinitely. On the other hand, Matthews controls much of his fate. To think that he’d refuse a request for, say, 10 potential trade destinations, is nonsensical.

Given his insinuation during locker–cleanout day, he could make the request. Not the team.

HAIL THE COMPETITION

I THOUGHT THIS WAS FUNNY. THE PHOTO TO KEVIN McGRAN’S FEATURE ON LEAFS BROADCASTER JOE BOWEN IN THE TORONTO STAR SHOWED A COUPLE OF GREYBEARDS FROM THE TORONTO SUN IN PRESS ROW: STEVE SIMMONS AND LANCE HORNBY. SHOULDN’T DESK PEOPLE BE MORE AWARE?

HOW TO ASSESS THE CANDIDATES? I repeat, if a new Leafs general manager requires Keith Pelley to sign off on hockey matters, that person will bleed credibility. Through the entire history of the Toronto franchise, ownership has either assumed, or meddled in, personnel matters. From founder Conn Smythe… to the Big 3 (Stafford Smythe, John Bassett, Harold Ballard)… to the younger Smythe and Ballard later controlling the team… to Steve Stavro, the Teachers’ and Ed the Conqueror, unsound hands have guided much of what the Leafs accomplished. A near–60–year absence from the Stanley Cup final has, therefore, been hardly coincidental. How, then, can we properly assess the rumored candidates? Chris Pronger, for example, knows the game rather thoroughly. But, so did Brendan Shanahan, until his obstinacy and bullheadedness precluded the club from making necessary fundamental change. Former Canucks’ GM Mike Gillis seems to have the ear of MLSE after nearly a decade’s absence from the league. Again, could Mike come here and execute his own plan? Or, would Pelley be down his throat with deals based on AI?

The Hunter brothers in London (if at all interested) wouldn’t consider answering to a corporate figure on hockey matters. Mats Sundin, as others have pointed out, would provide MLSE a friendly, nostaligic face at the top of the executive pyramid. Sundin’s former teammate in Quebec, Joe Sakic, has done a commendable job running the Colorado Avalanche. Could Mats accomplish the same in Toronto? And, why, for God’s sake, would the Leafs continue with their specialty: having a coach (Craig Berube) already in place for a new GM? Rather than cleaning house and providing the manager a blank slate? Trusting MLSE to make a sound hockey decision invites skepticism.

WHEN ONTARIO LAW INTERCEDED
Leafs–Flyers 1976 Quarterfinal Blood–a–Thon

Among the most–memorable Leaf playoff rounds of the post–1967 era occurred 50 years ago this week when the Philadelphia Flyers came to town and incurred the wrath of Ontario’s Attorney General, Roy McMurtry. The 1976 Stanley Cup quarterfinal between the Leafs and Flyers unexpectedly persisted through seven games before the favored club prevailed. Games 3 and 4, at Maple Leaf Gardens, produced fireworks and enduring memory. The Leafs won both matches, offsetting Philadelphia triumphs in Games 1 and 2 at the Spectrum. A nearly 3½–hour bloodbath erupted in the third match (Apr. 15, 1976) of the series — Don Saleski, Joe Watson and Mel Bridgman of the Flyers incurring varied assault charges (Toronto Star front page, above). Bridgman established his career–long reputation as a coward after picking out Borje Salming and administering a beating to the docile Leafs defenseman. Salming then famously stuck it down Bridgman’s throat in Game 4, scoring an immaculate breakaway goal on Bernie Parent that generated the largest explosion of noise I ever witnessed at the Gardens.

Here is more of my newspaper recollection from Games 3 and 4 of the series:

GAME 3 — THURSDAY, APRIL 15, 1976:

 
THOUGHTS, ABOVE, FROM VETERAN TORONTO STAR COLUMNIST JIM PROUDFOOT.

GAME 4 — SUNDAY, APRIL 17, 1976

BORJE SALMING SCORED HIS PHENOMENAL BREAKAWAY GOAL ON HIS 25th BIRTHDAY.

EMAIL: HOWARDLBERGER@GMAIL.COM