The Toronto Maple Leafs cannot afford to allow Auston Matthews to play in the 4 Nations Face-Off if he’s not one hundred percent healthy.
I must admit, I like the idea of a best-on-best tournament every few years. When I was a kid, the Canada Cup was an interesting event. I recall that 1987 series in which Wayne Gretzky set up Mario Lemieux for the game-winner against the Soviet Union.
But fast forward to 2024, and the 4 Nations Face-Off seems more like a gimmick. In my estimation, it’s a way the NHL has found to boost ratings and appease players’ desires to play in an international tournament wearing their home country’s colours.
I get it. I would be psyched about the idea if I was a player. Nothing would make me prouder than wearing the maple leaf on my chest.
But we must remember hockey is a business. And like a business, there are profit-driven decisions that must be made. Those decisions might sometimes be unpopular, but they have to be made for the sake of the overall good.
This decision boils down to a key factor: Who pays Auston Matthews to play hockey?
That answer is simple: The Toronto Maple Leafs pay Auston Matthews $13 million or so per season to lace up his skates and do what he does best. But the fact of the matter is that the Leafs cannot afford to let Matthews play unless he’s one hundred percent.
Think about it. What happens if Matthews re-aggravates whatever it is that’s afflicting him during the tournament? Where does that leave the Leafs?
Personally, that sort of situation would cause me to lose sleep. I would invoke whatever deities I could to ensure Matthews doesn’t get hurt.
But if Matthews is one hundred percent healthy, then he should play. Why deprive him of an opportunity to represent the United States if it wouldn’t needlessly put his health in danger?
Decision to play should be up to Auston Matthews, not Toronto Maple Leafs
As much as the Toronto Maple Leafs should treat Auston Matthews with kid gloves, the ultimate decision to play in the 4 Nations should rest with Matthews.
Matthews is the best judge of his health. So, if he feels fully healthy to play, there should be no problem with the Leafs letting him play.
In contrast, Matthews should be mature enough to admit he can’t go. There’s no sense in letting pride lead him to a foolish decision to play at the 4 Nations nursing an injury.
That’s something that other teams must be pondering with their stars. The Edmonton Oilers must be just as concerned about letting Connor McDavid play. Similarly, the Colorado Avalanche must be worried about Cale Makar or Nathan MacKinnon getting hurt during the tournament.
Ultimately, the NHL must be honest with fans. The aim is to promote the best players in the world, not stubbornly put players in harm’s way.
I can’t wait to see how the 4 Nations turns out. I hope it succeeds and the event becomes a regular occurrence every few years.
However, players must exercise caution and remember that their clubs’ interests come ahead of their own.