With everything that’s happened in the past 24 hours with the Toronto Maple Leafs, there are new questions to be stacked on top of the old ones that demand answers. Specifically, how will the Maple Leafs’ rapidly changing GM affect players and their ability or desire to stay with an organization that appears to be falling apart, or at least unsure of their future?
As it stands now, the team doesn’t know who GM will be heading to at a critical time in their franchise history. Kyle Dubas is out, Jason Spezza is out, Sheldon Keefe may be linked with Dubas and players like Auston Matthews and William Nylander each have one year left on their contracts and it would likely be disastrous to allow either of them to walk into a position they both control. own destiny. To say that the organization is in potentially trying times and in a position to make huge decisions would be an understatement.
Both Matthews and Nylander can renegotiate contracts on July 1, and specifically, Matthews has a no-action clause that begins on that date. If he doesn’t sign an extension, he can squash any potential trade offers and simply enter free agency. It was already a tough place for the Leafs, even with Dupas (someone Matthews close to) conducting the negotiations. With Dubas now out and a general manager uncertain, what will Matthews think?
Related: Spezza Shows Loyalty to Dubas, Quits Maple Leafs Job
According to Elliot Friedman, then the NHL star may simply wait things out. Friedman notes, “I think at least now you have to be prepared for the possibility that he won’t commit by July 1st and may have to go into next season unanswered… What guarantee is he or Nylander going to commit by July 1st ( July)?” In other words, why would either star want a long-term commitment if neither knew where the franchise was going?
For example, what if a new General Motors company came along and immediately traded Mitch Marner? What if Matthews only wanted to stay if Marner was part of the team? The odds of him getting that answer by July 1 are slim. Or what if they both want to know who the new coach will be, assuming the Leafs remove Sheldon Keef and go in another direction? Will Toronto fire Keefe and hire someone else by then? It is possible, but again, it seems questionable.
Once the July 1 date arrives, all bets are off
Once the Maple Leafs and these two players pass the point of no return, there won’t be much incentive for Matthews or Nylander to rush into a decision. They can wait, see the team’s performance, what the roster looks like, and then choose their destination. Both will have a lot of options.
The only leverage the Maple Leafs would have would be a threat to the idea that either or both of them could be traded if they didn’t comply. If both/no one wants to be dealt with, maybe consider signing. Even then, deals for these big names take time. Are the Maple Leafs really ready to pull the trigger on a deal that feels rushed?