Toronto Maple Leafs

What does Auston Matthews' future with the Toronto Maple Leafs look like?

It is a question causing great intrigue and, in some cases, concern among fans of the Original Six squad. After all, No. 34 is the face of the franchise and the guy around whom they have placed all of their hopes and dreams for the first Stanley Cup trophy since 1967.

He is the guy expected to lead Toronto to the pinnacle of professional hockey but he has a contract that is up at the end of next season and both sides are hopeful of getting a new deal done.

So much so that general manager Brad Treliving, team advisor Shane Doan and Matthews' agent Judd Muldavor all traveled to Arizona to meet with the star center according to David Pagnotta of NHL Network. The report also states that Matthews is expected to have a greater role in the negotiation of the deal.

He should and, more importantly, he must work with team officials to get the deal done, not just for the sake of the Maple Leafs organization and its fans moving forward but for his own sake.

Matthews has six All-Star appearances, a Calder Memorial trophy, two "Rocket" Richard trophies, a Hart Memorial and a Ted Lindsay award. He also just completed his fourth consecutive year of 40 goals.

He has lived up to his potential on the stat line but to this point, the one goal he and his team have had since day one continues to elude him.

Not only does the 56-year Stanley Cup drought rage on but the Leafs under Matthews still have not advanced beyond the second round of the playoffs. There is a mounting sentiment that this Leafs team, and its star, cannot win the big one and the last thing all involved needs is for contractual uncertainty to hover over a potentially defining season.

Getting the deal done sooner rather than later would also open the door for the team's brass to focus on inking a new contract with William Nylander, himself in need of a deal before the end of next season.

"I have a full year (before free agency), and obviously I want to stay here," he told reporters at the conclusion of the season.

Nylander tied Matthews with 40 goals and established himself as an integral part of Toronto's future. Matthews may be the guy in Toronto but he is not the only guy there and will players around him to help get the team to where they want to be. Getting his teammate under contract would help with that, but only after Matthews, himself, puts pen to paper.

Matthews is the centerpiece of the franchise and to reward him for a job well done to this point, and ensure a bright future for a championship-hungry fan base, he has to work with the team to get a deal done.

The alternative is entering a season surrounded by great uncertainty, with improved teams in the East and no guarantee that the postseason awaits. Those ingredients make for distractions which, in turn, breed controversies.

Neither Matthews nor the Leafs need that entering a pivotal season for both of their legacies.

The Columbus Blue Jackets intend to hire Mike Babcock as their next head coach once his contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs expires next month, per Sportsnet.

The Blue Jackets intend to name Mike Babcock as their new head coach once his contract with the Maple Leafs expires at the end of this month, Sportsnet can confirm. pic.twitter.com/PR0Of7ZYrS

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 3, 2023

TSN's Darren Dreger and Pierre LeBrun added more information:

Speculation around the Memorial Cup is Mike Babcock will return to the NHL as @BlueJacketsNHL new coach and the delay in announcing coincides with his existing contract with the Maple Leafs expiring the end of this month. https://t.co/OUlxBRS8bq

— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) June 3, 2023

Further to @DarrenDreger, the Leafs still owe Mike Babcock through June 30. Plan is for the Blue Jackets to finalize his hiring after that. Sounds like Babcock has been Jarmo Kekalainen’s choice for a bit.

— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) June 3, 2023

Aaron Portzline of The Athletic also confirmed the news via an anonymous team source, noting Columbus' intention to hire Babcock after the Leafs contract runs out on June 30.

Clay Hall, the Sports Director of ABC-6 and FOX-28, reached out to Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen for comment:

FEW WORDS: With reports & rumors circulating on the #CBJ coaching search today, GM @jkekalainen texted “no” to my question regarding updates on that pursuit. Brad Larsen was dismissed April 15th. @BlueJacketsNHL

— Clay Hall (@NewDayForClay) June 3, 2023

The 60-year-old Babcock has coached the Anaheim Ducks (2002-2004), Detroit Red Wings (2005-2015) and Maple Leafs (2015-2020). His teams have compiled a record of 700 wins, 418 regulation losses, 19 ties and 164 overtime defeats.

Babcock notably led the Red Wings to back-to-back Stanley Cup appearances in 2008 and 2009, with the team winning it all in the former year. He also guided the 2002-03 Ducks to a Stanley Cup appearance.

In addition, Babcock led the Canadian men's national hockey team to a pair of Olympic gold medals in 2010 and 2014.

The Blue Jackets have missed the playoffs each of the past three years.

There's no doubting Babcock's tremendous success at the professional and international levels.

However, some former players notably accused the coach of verbal and mental abuse after Toronto fired him in 2019.

Ex-Red Wing forward Johan Franzen told Swedish evening newspaper Expressenthat Babcock "the worst (person) I have ever met."

"But then, he's a terrible person, the worst I have ever met. He's a bully who was attacking people," Franzen said. "It could be a cleaner at the arena in Detroit or anybody. He would lay into people without any reason."

Franzen retired in 2015 after 11 years in Detroit. Per Ted Kulfan of The Detroit News, Franzen has suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression. He also suffered numerous concussions during his career.

Hall of Famer, former Red Wings defenseman and ex-Detroit front office executive Chris Chelios also had this to say on the Spittin' Chiclets podcast (h/t Ted Kulfan of The Detroit News) in 2019 regarding a moment he saw between the coach and player during the 2012 playoffs against the Nashville Predators.

"Some of the things he (Babcock) said to him (Franzen) on the bench, I don't know what he said to him behind closed doors one-on-one, but he blatantly verbally assaulted him during the game on the bench. It got to the point where poor Johan, no one really knowing he was suffering with the concussion thing and the depression thing, he just broke down and had nervous breakdown, not only on the bench but after the game in one of the rooms in Nashville.

"It was probably one of the worst things I've ever seen."

There was also a reported incident involving then-Maple Leafs rookie Mitch Marner per Terry Koshan of the Toronto Sun and confirmed by hockey analyst Ian Tulloch.

I heard about this Babcock story when it happened, but I didn’t want to bring it up until I could confirm it was true.

The rookie he did this to was Mitch Marner. https://t.co/d6TcayagcS

— Ian Tulloch📊 (@IanGraph) November 25, 2019

Babcock responded to the allegations in an interview with LeBrun in Jan. 2021.

"It doesn't matter what I perceive," Babcock said in part.

"When you're talking about this kind of thing, if the person — whether it's a co-worker, your spouse, your student — if they think that's the environment, that's what they're feeling. Now, I sure wish I would have known about that then. And I could have done something about that. Besides apologize, there's not much I can do about that now. But does it sting? Does it hurt? Absolutely."

Regarding the Marner incident, Babcock said the moment was misconstrued.

"Yeah, that's not how that happened, actually,'' Babcock said in part.

"So Mitch was in my office. We were talking about work ethic. I asked him where he ranked on the scale. And that was no problem, that was just a private thing. It was a good meeting, Mitch left. But then I was meeting, I'm pretty sure it was with (Tyler) Bozak, afterward. Bozy was an important part of our team. What I ended up doing — and I made a big-time mistake, I knew as soon as I did it — when we were talking about competing and I said, 'Well look where Mitch ranks it.'

"So Mitch was in my office. We were talking about work ethic. I asked him where he ranked on the scale. And that was no problem, that was just a private thing. It was a good meeting, Mitch left. But then I was meeting, I'm pretty sure it was with (Tyler) Bozak, afterward. Bozy was an important part of our team. What I ended up doing — and I made a big-time mistake, I knew as soon as I did it — when we were talking about competing and I said, 'Well look where Mitch ranks it.'

Columbus just finished the season with 25 wins, 48 regulation losses and nine overtime defeats alongside a minus-116 goal differential. The Blue Jackets have missed the playoffs each of the past three years.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have agreed to make Brad Treliving their new general manager.

Toronto confirmed the hire Wednesday after Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff first reported the two sides were putting the "finishing touches" on the deal.

Brad Treliving has been named the club’s General Manager

— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) May 31, 2023

Treliving, who was the Calgary Flames' general manager from 2014 until his contract expired at the end of the 2022-23 season, is in line to replace Kyle Dubas, who did not have his contract extended by the Leafs when their 2022-23 campaign ended.

Dubas was elevated from within the organization to become the Maple Leafs' general manager in 2018 on the heels of two consecutive first-round exits in the playoffs.

In five seasons under Dubas, Toronto made five consecutive playoff appearances, but it did not win a playoff series until this season when it took down the Tampa Bay Lightning in six games.

The Leafs were eliminated by the Florida Panthers in the second round in five games, however, and their high-powered offense was held to just two goals in each contest of the series.

Treliving spent nine seasons as the Flames' GM, reaching the playoffs five times but never getting beyond the second round.

Calgary barely missed the playoffs this season with 93 points, which was a significant downgrade from the 111 points it posted the year before.

Last offseason was a difficult one for Treliving and the Flames, as they watched superstar winger Johnny Gaudreau sign with the Columbus Blue Jackets in free agency. They also traded another star winger in Matthew Tkachuk to the Panthers when they couldn't come to terms on a new contract.

Entering the Stanley Cup Final, Tkachuk is the odds-on favorite to win the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.

In Toronto, Treliving is set to inherit the type of offensive firepower he had in Calgary before losing the likes of Gaudreau and Tkachuk.

Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, John Tavares and William Nylander lead the way up front, but there are major questions on defense and in goal.

Treliving will have to decide whether to retain restricted free-agent goalie Ilya Samsonov, plus some key forwards are set to hit unrestricted free agency in Ryan O'Reilly and Michael Bunting, among others.

Toronto has been a perennial playoff team and is seemingly always in the conversation to win a Stanley Cup, but its playoff runs have consistently ended early over the past seven seasons.

While the Maple Leafs already have their core in place, it will be up to Treliving to find the right supporting pieces and make them fit in a way that allows the Leafs to finally break through and win the Cup.

Jason Spezza has resigned from the Toronto Maple Leafs front office after the franchise announced Friday that general manager Kyle Dubas would not return in 2023-24, per The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun.

Spezza had served as a special assistant to Dubas during the 2022-23 campaign, his first job since retiring from the NHL following a 19-year career.

Spezza, a Toronto native, spent the final three years of his career with the Maple Leafs, notching 31 goals and 49 assists for 80 points in 183 games.

The 39-year-old was selected second overall by the Ottawa Senators in the 2001 draft and spent 11 seasons with the franchise before joining the Dallas Stars for five seasons from 2014 to '19.

In 1,248 career games, Spezza tallied 363 goals and 632 assists for 995 points. He ended his career having never won a Stanley Cup.

According to Steven Ellis of Daily Faceoff, "many believed" Spezza would remain with the Maple Leafs "in a big way" despite the franchise's decision to part ways with Dubas. He added that Spezza "was a popular figure with the players, having played with much of the core, and seemed in tune with everything going on in the NHL."

Toronto's decision to part ways with Dubas following the team's second-round playoff loss to the Florida Panthers came as somewhat of a surprise, especially after Nick Kypreos of the Toronto Star reported Thursday that he was "sitting" on a contract extension offer worth around $4 million annually.

Dubas began his career with the Maple Leafs in 2014 when he was hired as assistant general manager. He was promoted to general manager in 2018 after Lou Lamoriello was fired.

The Maple Leafs made the Stanley Cup playoffs every year since Dubas took over as general manager. However, Toronto found minimal postseason success, suffering four first-round playoff exits before its second-round exit this year.

What's next for Dubas remains unclear. He told reporters earlier this week that if he wasn't general manager of the Maple Leafs next season, he would take a year off.

"It'll either be here or it'll be taking time to recalibrate (and) reflect on the seasons here," Dubas said. "But you won't see me next week pop up elsewhere."

As for Spezza, his NHL future also remains up in the air.

One week after being eliminated from the Stanley Cup playoffs in the second round, the Toronto Maple Leafs are making a change at general manager.

Toronto announced Friday that Kyle Dubas will not return following the team's postseason loss to the Florida Panthers:

pic.twitter.com/IcNEdf2gzs

— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) May 19, 2023

Elliotte Friedman of Hockey Night in Canada previously reported that Dubas wasn't expected to return.

Nick Kypreos of the Toronto Star reported Thursday that Dubas was "sitting" on an extension offer from the Maple Leafs worth around $4 million per season and included access to a company jet.

Speaking to reporters at an end-of-season press conference Tuesday, Dubas explained his thought process about potentially continuing on in his role with Toronto.

"It requires me to have a full family discussion," he said. "My family is a hugely important part of what I do. For me to commit to anything without having a fuller understanding of what this year took (out of) them … it's probably unfair for me to answer where I'm at. We haven't been able to have those full discussions yet, but it was a very hard year on them."

Dubas also said if he didn't return to the Maple Leafs, it wouldn't be for a job with another club right away: "It'll either be here or it'll be taking time to recalibrate (and) reflect on the seasons here. But you won't see me next week pop up elsewhere."

After starting his career as a player agent, Dubas moved into the front office when he was hired as general manager of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in the Ontario Hockey League in 2011.

The Maple Leafs brought in Dubas as their assistant general manager in July 2014. He was promoted to the general manager's chair in May 2018 following Lou Lamoriello's firing.

Toronto made the playoffs every year under Dubas. The franchise has had its two best seasons by regular-season points in each of the past two years, including a club-record 115 points in 2021-22.

Despite their success in the regular season, the Maple Leafs have struggled in the postseason. This year marked the first time they advanced to the second round since 2012-13.

Toronto Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews has just one year left on his contract before he can hit free agency, but he sounded hopeful that he and the team could work out a long-term contract extension.

"My intention is to be here," he told reporters Monday. "I think I've reciprocated that before, how much I enjoy playing here and what it means to me—the organization, my teammates and how much I just enjoy being here."

"I think it's important. It will all works itself out in due time."

"I really do enjoy playing here. it's a true honour."

Auston Matthews on signing with the Leafs long-term and his feelings about playing with the organization. pic.twitter.com/EMs7nShORw

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) May 15, 2023

Matthews, 25, will play the 2023-24 season on a $750,000 base salary with a $7.2 million signing bonus before hitting unrestricted free agency next offseason. If he is allowed to test the open market, a bidding war would undoubtedly emerge for his services.

He remains one of the most prolific goal-scorers and offensive threats in the NHL, posting 40 goals and 45 assists this past season in 74 games. It was his fifth season with at least 40 goals and his second straight season with 45 or more assists, though it didn't match his career year from the 2021-22 season (60 goals, 46 assists).

That earned him his second All-Star Game nod and helped him clean up in the awards department, winning the Hart Memorial Trophy, Ted Lindsay award and Maurice Richard Trophy.

He was not an All-Star this past season, however, though he did help lead the Maple Leafs to their seventh straight playoff appearance and ended a 19-year drought without a playoff series win.

The Maple Leafs knocked out the three-time defending Eastern Conference champion Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round before losing in five games to the Florida Panthers.

"I mean if I had all the answers, I wouldn't be standing here right now."

Auston Matthews when asked how to get over the hump in the playoffs. pic.twitter.com/LHZa2K8xbO

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) May 15, 2023

He paired with Mitch Marner (99 points), William Nylander (87 points) and John Tavares (80 points) to give Toronto one of the most dangerous offenses in hockey (3.41 goals per game, eighth in the NHL).

So Matthews remains a huge part of the Maple Leafs, and keeping him in Toronto is paramount in the quest to end a Stanley Cup title drought dating back to the 1966-67 season.

"It's huge," Mitch Marner told reporters regarding his teammate's desire to sign an extension to remain in Toronto. "He means a lot to this team. Hopefully that works out and that can happen."

The Toronto Maple Leafs needed a big night from their big stars. They did not get one Friday.

John Tavares, Auston Matthews and Mitchell Marner were held off the scoreboard in Game 5, and the Florida Panthers scored in overtime to eliminate the Leafs with a 3-2 win in Toronto.

The Panthers advanced to the Eastern Conference Final for the second time in franchise history.

Meanwhile, the Leafs' 56-year Stanley Cup drought remained one of hockey fans' favorite jokes.

20,465 days since a Cup.

7,669 days since winning a second round series.

1,175 days since losing to an AHL Zamboni driver.

0 days since being eliminated by the 17th place @FlaPanthers. #LeafsForever

— Since Leafs Last Cup (@LeafsIastCup) May 13, 2023

Someone forgot to tell the Leafs you don’t win the Stanley Cup in the first round

— Louis (@Louis_Onofrio) May 13, 2023

After that goal, the New York Islanders still have more playoff series wins in Toronto than John Tavares has as a Maple Leaf.

— UrinatingTree (@UrinatingTree) May 13, 2023

https://twitter.com/JamesNCFan1/status/1657217177085173761

A good effort from a small market team like the Maple Leafs, but as usual it was a team from a real hockey market like the state of Florida that sends them packing

— Andrew Weiss (@WeissHockeyTalk) May 13, 2023

The good new for Tavares is that he abandoned the franchise that adopted and raised him, but at least he got to go home and ruin his childhood favourite team’s cup chances with his albatross of a contract.

— Cory (@Corynoscopy) May 13, 2023

Playoff losses are nothing new for a team that just ended its first second-round appearance since 2004. This one, however, raised questions about whether the Maple Leafs can make a deep run with their core.

Captain Tavares, who earned several scoring chances in the elimination game, recorded just one assist in five games in the second round.

John Tavares’ inability to finish his chances is a huge reason the Leafs are down 3-1 in this series. Gotta find a way to finish.

— Sam McKee (@SamAMcKee) May 12, 2023

Maybe Morgan Rielly should come out for the third wearing that C, since John Tavares doesn't seem to want it.#LeafsForever

— Annex Canada (but not Quebec) (@torontobaghead) May 13, 2023

Bench Tavares now. Captain but is worst when it matters the most

— Johan s (@Johans54806418) May 13, 2023

rip the C off of Tavares’ chest and slap it on Rielly’s

— bobbi :(( (@mo_gardiner) May 13, 2023

get a new coach and strip tavares’ C please.

— ☘︎ (@AU5T0N) May 13, 2023

Tavares do something!
Otherwise give up that C .
Your children are in attendance DO SOMETHING

— Fer (@Fershebang96) May 12, 2023

Gotta love the difference between the guy who's supposed to be your captain and the actual captain of this team. Tavares is a non factor and Cptn. Mo Rielly plays big when it matters. #leafs #Leafsin7 #tradeJT#givehimtheC

— Apathetic Leafs Fan (@BRNR11679280) May 13, 2023

Fans also leveled criticism at Matthews, who tallied 40 goals during the regular season but was scoreless against the Panthers.

https://twitter.com/hammyahol/status/1657198050970943488

we’re gonna lose a series where Matthews and Tavares combined for 0 goals

— bobbi :(( (@mo_gardiner) May 13, 2023

I am the most angry at Auston Matthews. Zero goals is unacceptable. I do not care about anything else. Zero goals in round 2

— thisteambringsnothingbutpain-in 6! (@LeafsFanMd) May 13, 2023

Auston Matthews looks like a freaking freight train, goes wherever he wants, has the puck on a string AND NEVER SCORES

— Mark Armstrong (@MarkPArmstrong) May 13, 2023

Matthews still plays for the Leafs right? I dunno.

— Matty Dubs. (@AustonPowers34) May 13, 2023

https://twitter.com/SB4xJG4/status/1657191333788778503

Back at the beginning of the night, Florida's Aaron Ekblad scored on a power play 3:31 in before the Leafs took control of the first period.

Toronto looked like it was moments from getting one of several high-danger chances past Sergei Bobrovsky when the Panthers earned a rush the other way. Carter Verhaeghe deflated the crowd when he blasted home a one-timer from a sharp angle, stretching the Panthers' lead to 2-0 at 16:18.

Eight minutes into the second period, Sam Lafferty led a charge into the Panthers' zone. The Leafs set up, and Morgan Rielly's shot from the point snaked through traffic to finally beat Bobrovsky.

Toward the end of the frame, it appeared Rielly had tied the game with his second goal of the night. This time, he came in alone, cut across the net and shoved the puck into Bobrovsky's pads. Rielly raised his arms in celebration as the crowd erupted—too early, as it turned out. Referees were already waving off the goal.

After minutes of deliberation, the NHL situation room made the call. The puck crossed the line after the official had decided the play was dead.

Boos echoed through Scotiabank Arena as the teams left for the break.

goodbye goodbye goodbye you were bigger than the whole sky pic.twitter.com/to9nlWp2AN

— marcie (@60leafs) May 13, 2023

The most leaf thing is to probably lose a series bc the ref blew the whistle before the puck crossed the line. So the goal is no good 😂

— PVolpe (@paulie_volpe) May 13, 2023

https://twitter.com/bigscreenleaks/status/1657191441334935553

It’s the same thing every year: a blown call heavily influences a loss

Last year was #Holl disallowed #Tavares goal, and now #Reilly goal turned back on what should’ve been a continuance play.

Absolute garbage. #LeafsForever

— Angelo Ricci (@angeloricci_) May 13, 2023

They’ll be talking about that no goal for a long time around these parts.

Or maybe not. If the Leafs find a way.

But if they don’t. They’ll talk.

— Devin Heroux (@Devin_Heroux) May 13, 2023

With less than five minutes left in regulation, William Nylander scored one of the most clutch goals of his career.

Tavares fed Nylander at the blue line. Nylander, who also scored in the Leafs' 2-1 Game 4 win, zipped into the zone, shouldered aside a defender and snapped the puck up high over Bobrovsky's shoulder.

It's really the Big Three, all above 10M AAV, that seem to wilt in their scoring when the games get tough. Nylander isn't in that group in salary or in play. Dude is clutch.

— Ryan (@ryanfancey) May 13, 2023

William Nylander and Morgan Rielly are the only Leafs that matter.

— ًًً (@icenineleafs) May 13, 2023

https://twitter.com/CarcelMousineau/status/1657202390653698051

Nylander outplaying Matthews by about 5m AAV

— Mr. Tenkrat (@PeterTenkrat) May 13, 2023

Nylander and Rielly are the heart of that team. Consistently.

— Berkshire.bsky.social (@AndrewBerkshire) May 13, 2023

Matthews earned consecutive point-blank jabs in the paint three minutes into overtime but was turned aside by Bobrovsky.

The Leafs successfully killed off a TJ Brodie delay-of-game penalty before a Tavares tip on a Brodie shot nearly ended things with under seven minutes remaining.

Then, a couple of Leafs collided in the defensive zone, and the Panthers earned an odd-man rush the other way. Radko Gudas fed Nick Cousins, who waited, dragged it back and scored to ruin Toronto's comeback.

Having completed their second straight upset after knocking out the Boston Bruins in the first round, the Panthers will face the Carolina Hurricanes in the conference final. The Hurricanes have home-ice advantage, so Florida will head to Raleigh for Game 1.