Why Auston Matthews Will Leave the Toronto Maple Leafs
Better Opportunity for Success
Matthews is a competitor. Not only does he want individual accolades but also team success. In his opinion, he may not have the right collection of players surrounding him in Toronto to make that happen.
If Matthews believes that he has a better chance of winning a championship with another team, he may be swayed to join them instead.
It would be foolish to believe that Matthews doesn’t pay attention to the landscape of the league. He knows how teams are trending. He could be looking at joining a franchise that looks like it is on the doorstep of claiming a Stanley Cup.
Financial considerations
Matthews is one of the best players in the NHL and he will be paid as such. There’s no doubt that the Leafs are ready to cut some massive cheques. However, there are some things other teams can offer that Toronto cannot.
All NHL clubs pay their players in US currency so that doesn’t factor in. The cost of living may. It’s not cheap for Matthews’ home base to be in Toronto. From real estate to the cost of food, he could be saving and investing much more elsewhere.
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There are also far more favorable spots to save on the income taxes he needs to pay. If Matthews wanted to reduce what he gives back to the government, he may be considering a move to Florida where the tax rate is far lower.
Family
We’ve seen players like Leafs captain John Tavares come to Toronto in order to play closer to his family and where he grew up in Scottsdale, Arizona.
If this is Matthews most motivating factor then we can expect him to join the Arizona Coyotes. He would instantly become the best player that franchise has ever had, giving him even more reason to contemplate the move.
Disagreements with management
Besides what was learned about Matthews and former coach Mike Babcock disagreeing on playing time, nothing has come up about how the Leafs forward feels about management.
This is the professional approach. Matthews should continue to act in this manner. However, if behind the scenes he and the organization aren’t getting along, that may be enough to help Matthews make the decision to leave.
Coaching change
Leafs fans are fed up with the team’s inability to go deep into the playoffs. They have started to call for an end to Sheldon Keefe’s time as head coach. It’s unclear what Matthews thinks of his coach. He may love him.
If Keefe is out of the picture, does that entice his star player to follow him to a future team Alternatively, if Matthews agrees with Leafs Nation and wants Keefe out of the picture, he may choose to look for a change of scenery should the coach remain at the helm.
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Until Matthews re-signs with the Leafs, is traded (not at all likely in the near future), or signs a new deal with a different franchise, speculation will run rampant. Hopefully, he remains in Toronto for many more years to come.