Auston Matthews heard what Jon Cooper said about the Leafs and pointed straight to Tampa's dynasty
Photo credit: Morgan Tencza-Imagn Images
Auston Matthews pointed to the bounce back season that the Tampa Bay Lightning had as motivation to focus on for next season as he believes they can do the same thing next year -- and so does Jon Cooper.
If you'll recall, the Tampa Bay Lightning have dealt with their own struggles over the past decade even if they've won quite a few times as well. They finished fifth in 2016-17, the only blip sandwiched between two Conference Finals.
Toronto is in a similar situation, as they were Atlantic Champions last year, and sit in the basement of the division now.
Jon Cooper watched this kind of collapse before with his own team
It's something that's disheartening for Maple Leafs fans but according to Lightning coach Jon Cooper -- it's not going to be bad for long.
Cooper praised the Leafs organization when asked about their position in the standings, and acknowledged the pieces on the team are more than capable of finding success:
They have a fabulous core still ... This is probably going to be a one-off for them
Cooper has done some serious work since being hired for Guy Boucher in 2012-13, and he knows the pain of losing as he saw his team struggle and although 94 points is nothing to be ashamed of -- it was a massive drop-off from the 108 points they had in 2014-15.
Matthews didn't pick any random team, but a back-to-back Cup winner
Cooper's comments found their way into the ear of Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews, who in turn mentioned Tampa's previous struggles as well as Boston's, knowing that one year doesn't make or break a team:
I remember Lightning missed the playoffs one year (16-17) & then the next year they're back at the top of the division, competing. Boston this year, had a down year & same thing, like, they're in the mix. You know, sometimes it happens
Boston had 76 points last season after going 33-39-10 meanwhile they are already at 76 points with 19 games left to go. Not only have the stars done their thing, but role players like Fraser Minten, Alex Steeves and Casey Mittelstadt are pulling their weight too.
Matthews needs those types of performances from his supporting cast, and he's looking to make a big comeback next year.
This is the clearest sign Matthews wants to make it work
Matthews' confidence in his group is admirable for sure, and his focus on the positives coming out of a bad season show that he isn't worried about the standings now, but how they can be better next year.
This is the time for Matthews to evaluate his surroundings, then as captain use his influence to bring in players that he wants to have and who could end up bringing him back to his elite form.
There wasn't a 'well maybe we can do it.' No, Matthews focused on Tampa and how it was seemingly just a blip on the radar. Toronto has made the playoffs nine years straight, and will miss this season; quite similar to Tampa a decade ago.
Giving him the proper pieces will only add to his confident nature and give him more of a reason to stick around and make things work. There's a lot of potential in this team, they just need someone to elevate them, and it's up to a confident Matthews to lead the charge.
Also read on Hockey Patrol :
Maple Leafs rejected Montreal Canadiens' trade offer for Matthew Knies: 'It's a business'
Maple Leafs rejected Montreal Canadiens' trade offer for Matthew Knies: 'It's a business'
| POLL | ||
MARS 10|896 ANSWERS Auston Matthews heard what Jon Cooper said about the Leafs and pointed straight to Tampa's dynasty Do you think the Maple Leafs will follow in Tampa's footsteps and come back stronger in 2-26=27? | ||
| Yes | 465 | 51.9 % |
| No | 431 | 48.1 % |
| List of polls | ||