Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews setting an absolute limit for his loyalty turns up the heat

All the talk and focus has been on Auston Matthews' future with the Maple Leafs and for good reason. He's been here 10 years without success, just had his worst season of his career and was put on the shelf without even a sniff of a response.

The team is going to do their best to make sure they give him exactly what he needs and with a contract expiring in 2028, there isn't much time to do it.

Matthews has stated he wants to win in Toronto and he's never really waned in his love or admiration for the city despite the immense pressure — but he's also not going to chase things either.

It's a topic James Mirtle noted during his appearance on JD Bunkis' podcast as the Maple Leafs insider explained that Matthews wasn't going to be chasing 'fool's gold'

To define fool's gold in layman's terms, the metaphor is used to describe something, like a promise, that appears valuable or promising but is actually worthless.

To put that into context for Matthews, he's not going to be sitting here during a time where Toronto's promising him the world and leaving him in the dirt. He's going to be 29 in September, hasn't made it to a Conference Finals, and could be looking at a team that is four or five years away from competing potentially.

Matthews isn't going to want to hear 'Hey, we've heard you and we're going to build a team for you.' then watch them implode again. It's selling Matthews a bridge, but one that you so happened to set on fire as well.

Well, given how the season turned out for him — some added protection would be nice. And no, I'm not talking about Ryan Reaves.

He needs players who are willing to go to battle for him and not be afraid to get dirty. Someone who comes to mind could be Mason Marchment, as the former Leaf has been outstanding as of late, but also provides a lot of toughness, grittiness, and is willing to stick up for his teammates.

A free agent, Marchment had 19 goals and 45 points to go along with 84 hits and 56 PIM. He's gritty and would be a great complement up in the top-six.

It also comes with an improvement for who's behind him. Morgan Rielly, Brandon Carlo, Chris Tanev, Simon Benoit and Troy Stecher are not needle movers and Toronto will never get better if they can't find more effective transition offence.

Bring in someone who will actually make a difference. Splurge for Rasmus Andersson or Darren Raddysh this offseason and give Matthews the type of player he needs to succeed.

Then we have to get rid of the stragglers like Max Domi, Steven Lorentz, perhaps even Nick Robertson and Matias Maccelli; the team needs a complete overhaul.

It starts with asking what the captain needs in order to thrive and what he feels is going to help the team succeed. Though if he's anything like teammate Anthony Stolarz he'd like Toronto to play like bastards.

And honestly, it might be their best chance at keeping their captain in town.

Also read on Hockey Patrol :
Free agent Bobby McMann dropping an intense reality check leaves Toronto zero room for error