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Leafs part ways with Berube

I hear you - my brother last night (who is a casual leafs fan at best) asks me 'what's this with Matthews saying he wants to leave?' and I said Matthews hasn't actually said anything, this is all based on 1 tweet. And he was saying that's all he's hearing. Toronto media really is annoying at times.

And while I'm on that semi rant - Kypreos was complaining the other day that knies was at raptors game when he should have been watching hockey. I can't even wrap my head around whatever point he was trying to make. I appreciate that Bourne or McKee (I can't remember which one) told him that was an absolute garbage take. He's trying really hard to be the new mccowan. We don't need a new mccowan.
There's definitely something to be said about "How do you view your future" and his reply is "I can't predict the future" when asked about next season. You're the captain and you're under contract and you have an NMC. He completely flubbed a softball question. How hard is it to say "I view next season as an opportunity to come back, be better and do everything I can to help get us back to the playoffs." Of course there's going to be speculation when you give that kind of an opening. I don't blame the media for running with that - just like everywhere else where the fanbase is passionate.
 
There's definitely something to be said about "How do you view your future" and his reply is "I can't predict the future" when asked about next season. You're the captain and you're under contract and you have an NMC. He completely flubbed a softball question. How hard is it to say "I view next season as an opportunity to come back, be better and do everything I can to help get us back to the playoffs." Of course there's going to be speculation when you give that kind of an opening. I don't blame the media for running with that - just like everywhere else where the fanbase is passionate.
I have no argument with this - but when did he say this? I don't remember the timeline. I was specifically referring to the CJ tweet.
 
The will they won't they was so bizarre. You could tell Matthews and most of the team was done with this. Bringing him back with the metrics they had last season would be nuts. I also think doing it in season for a GM's job preservation was a completely ridiculous take. You could make the case that not firing him would be malpractice.

Going by the metrics from last season, Bruce Cassidy coached teams are usually very good at what the Leafs were bad at last season. Food for thought.
 
I have no argument with this - but when did he say this? I don't remember the timeline. I was specifically referring to the CJ tweet.
Quote with more context here:

I didn't have a problem with it.
He is intent on returning next season.
If they retool, maybe Matthews hangs around.
If they go total rebuild, he'd probably go elsewhere to try to win a Cup because rebuild will probably take a number of seasons more than rebuild (though he didn't say that).
Whether they retool or rebuild is a decision he has no direct control over and therefore, he can't predict what he'll do nor what they might do or what they might ask him to do (ie accept a trade)
When Chayka & Sundin meet with him, that is probably what they're going to hear.
 
I know Chayka said Matthews had zero influence on this move but I can’t help believe him and Sundin heard something during their 10 days of meetings with staff that would indicate otherwise. Namely, that Matthews wasn’t happy with the coaching. I’m less likely to think Matthews game will improve under a new coach and more likely to believe his injury played a bigger role in his success (or lack thereof) over the past 2 seasons. This worries me more than anything else. I really hope they don’t start trading away picks and players to help build a team designed to satisfy Matthews and try to win in the next two years… instead of building a team designed for success over the next 10.
 
There's definitely something to be said about "How do you view your future" and his reply is "I can't predict the future" when asked about next season. You're the captain and you're under contract and you have an NMC. He completely flubbed a softball question. How hard is it to say "I view next season as an opportunity to come back, be better and do everything I can to help get us back to the playoffs." Of course there's going to be speculation when you give that kind of an opening. I don't blame the media for running with that - just like everywhere else where the fanbase is passionate.
My only problem with it was he wasn’t more direct in challenging management. “Best city, best hockey fanbase, and best goal scorer in North America deserve the best run team in the sport. Toronto isn’t going anywhere, but the other two might. Ownership should get serious”
 
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