SDPN: Chris Johnston on if Auston Matthews will be a Toronto Maple Leaf subsequent 12 months, and how much change could be coming.
(The podcast was recorded earlier than the information that Kyle Dubas wouldn’t be again subsequent season.)
** NHLRumors.com transcription
Johnston: “I nonetheless imagine that Auston Matthews desires to be a Leaf. This isn’t about him wanting out. It’s extra that the group is at this large crossroads and they must resolve what they need, proper?
You know, Auston Matthews, I imagine, desires to remain. Wants to signal that extension on or about July 1st. Like, I don’t suppose he desires this dragging on. He doesn’t want any extra hypothesis.
But he additionally desires to imagine the staff can win the Stanley Cup. I believe that’s most essential to him. And so the Leafs have to put a plan in entrance of them too. I imply, that is it. It’s a bit wild we’re sitting right here on May sixteenth and so much feels up within the air.
Like actually, what could be extra up within the air than like probably shifting franchise superstars, probably having a GM stroll away (podcast earlier than the Leafs and Dubas parted methods on Friday), probably having to change a head coach and having to do all of it in a six to seven week window on the busiest time on the hockey calendar for transactions?
I imply, it’s, it’s laborious to place your thoughts round all of it.
Julien McKenzie: There’s a actuality the place these three issues I discussed, the pinnacle coach, the GM and that core 4 – there’s a change in any respect three ranges.
I do know I type of mentioned, “Hey, maybe there’s reality where everything stays!” And you mentioned, ‘no,’ nice soundbite, but additionally there’s a actuality all of that modifications. Well – it’s ridiculous.
Johnston: “The increased up the chain of command it modifications, the extra doubtless there’s change beneath proper?
Like, If you simply get a model new GM who’s a contemporary set of eyes, properly it’s extra doubtless he’s altering the pinnacle coach and buying and selling one or two of these gamers. Like that, I believe that, it’s such as you blow up a bit increased up the chain, the explosions go downwards on this case.
So, , I believe the quote I gave – sadly, you at all times say one thing to get you radioed. however I mentioned on TSN 1050 yesterday that I count on one bomb, probably a couple of bomb, and I nonetheless stand by that. I imply that there’s one main change, if not two or extra coming.”
