The Toronto Maple Leafs Top 5 Mistakes of the Summer

William Nylander and Auston Matthews

The NHL is a star-driven league, just as much as the NBA.

The Toronto Maple Leafs used to know this.

This summer, they had one job – sign their two pending free-agents and keep them with the team long-term.

Now we’re hearing about three-year deals for Matthews, and rumours about playing hardball with Nylander?

Uncool.

Just shut up and pay the guys who stir the drink.

Nylander scored 40 goals as the third or fourth best option on the team. He’s an elite player with room to grow.

Matthews is Matthews, no argument needed.  He’s the best player in franchise history.

A sensible plan would be to just pay them both and move on.  Get it done without any drama.

Does Matthews want to be the highest paid player in the NHL?  Good for him, make it happen.

What’s it gonna take to get his name on an eight-year deal?  Just ask him, then do whatever he says.  It’s easy.

Same with Nylander. As we have seen with Alex Debrincat, trading him is a dumb idea that only a very bad GM would even be considering at this point.

He want’s ten million?

Give it to him.  He’s worth it.  The fact that we are approaching August without either player signed is an embarrassment to the organization and an indictment of the new GM.