Reports are surfacing that Matthews is annoyed with Babcock
Look at his ice time... We talk about that issue a lot with guys that don't deserve minutes. But why are you playing a guy that has 34 goals this year and is a good two-way force like a second line player?
My guess is this is the first summer where we have a real power struggle with all those power players in terms of the Leafs organizational power structure.
Also Babcock is an ******* so not all that surprising. Matthews is going to get him punted in a few years in my opinion. Babcock's timeline of usefulness never lined up with how they were planning to rebuild. He was going to wear guys out before they were good enough to win. I wouldn't be surprised if Matthews was annoyed with the whole thing organizationally. He is basically the captain, only they don't want him to be. He is their best player and anointed superstar but he played less than Joe Thornton and Zetterberg this year. He had a poor series, but he knows that he is going to be the guy who is held accountable and he gets to play with Zack Hyman/William (no defense) Nylander and Connor Brown to matchup head to head with all elite players night in and night out. He needs more help. The Leafs need more help on the backend, but you have to wonder if Matthews is thinking during the Boston series, how come I don't get to play with Marner? Just go carry this thing and know that you're going to be the front man face for this failure. Yeah I wouldn't be enamored either.
To be clear to those discussing it above I root for the Leafs to lose every game they play. I hate them with a passion. They are my least favorite sports organization in the world. I was raised to hate them and I do.
If the other team had a starting six of
Matt Cooke - Dale Hunter - Chris Simon
Bryan Marchment - Ulf Samuelsson
Eddie Belfour
I would root for those guys to beat the Leafs. It's the sweater, I am honestly bummed Matthews plays for them, I hope he somehow leaves after his 8 year extension he is likely to sign this summer.