Auston Matthews has no problems staying with the Maple Leafs for the long haul, but he's giving them an ultimatum on when his patience is going to run thin.
There was a lot of heated discussion this past summer over whether or not the Maple Leafs made the right moves to give Auston Matthews the best chance to win. He was wanting to see serious improvements and while there have been some in key areas, they have also faltered in others.
The moves made though have for the most part worked out, and the investment the team put in names like Darren Raddysh and Kirill Marchenko shows they care about winning now. But Toronto's lukewarm start surely isn't a good sign thus far, though there is still time to turn it around.
Matthews is giving the Maple Leafs only one way to keep him around
They are going to have to as well considering Matthews is basically giving them an ultimatum: Win or I'll walk.
According to David Pagnotta there is a discussion around Matthews' future, and that he is more than happy to stick with the team long-term, so long as they continue to show him they are serious about winning:
Everything I have been told has been genuine. From him, from his camp, from people around him, that he wants to stay in Toronto. And if this team is going to keep winning or on the trajectory to winning then he wants to be a part of it.
That's a huge relief for the Maple Leafs if they were worried about their captain sticking around, because not only does it buy them a bit of time when it comes to actually winning, but gives them a bit of a game plan going forward.
The team knows they need to keep winning, and that's going to put pressure on John Chayka to actively keep improving the team. That means focusing on the blue line, getting younger, getting players who can withstand a few hits - just showing that you care. He put a lot of faith in Chris Tanev and the rest of Toronto's aging defensive corps, and it's failed for the most part.
Will Matthews rethink his choice to stay in Toronto?
As long as the team continues to try improving and focusing on winning; maybe even getting past the second round, then Matthews is more likely to stick around. But another failed season with another huge overhaul may deter him from staying.
If he re-signs with the team on a long-term extension, then he is going to have to do so with the knowledge that he very well might not win. Look, nothing against Toronto but we are coming up on 60 years without a Cup and over 20 without a Conference Finals appearance.
Until the focus becomes on becoming genuinely competitive in all aspects, then it might be harder to convince Matthews to stay. But for now he's fully on board with what the Maple Leafs are trying to do, and honestly - having a bit of faith ourselves could pay off huge in the long run.
Do you believe the Maple Leafs will be able to keep Auston Matthews?
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