As always happens this time of year, a flurry of stories filter out about what the Toronto Maple Leafs, despite having a loaded team, can't seem to do well. Either they miss the playoffs or stumble and bumble through it before being knocked out and humiliated by some better team. This year, it was the former. And yet come September, they will be the favorites of some hockey expert to go all the way --- similar to the NFL writers who pick the Dallas Cowboys every year. Ha! Not gonna happen.
This time is different. Star center Auston Matthews is reportedly unhappy with the direction the team has taken. After all, he was compared to Connor McDavid. And while both stars have yet to win the Stanley Cup, at least McDavid has taken his Oilers to the finals a few times, and his team usually is a viable contender. Toronto...not so much.
After this year's failures, Toronto recently fired head coach Craig Berube, following the firing of general manager Brad Treliving in March. Despite making multiple deals over the last few years, the Leafs can't get over the hump. The team's admin had to pay for it.
So, back to Matthews. He wants to know what is going on with the direction the team is heading. While he hasn't asked for a trade yet, he has also given the team no indication about his desires. After all, he will be 29 before the season begins. He is no longer a young phenom. He should be entering his prime, but has battled injuries as the years take their toll.
Granted, the Leafs are apparently talking to the Rangers about Vincent Trocheck, but would that be enough? And if he doesn't want to return to the Maple Leafs, where would he go? Yahoo Sports already has some ideas about that. But could Philly be a destination for him? Would it be worth it?
Auston Matthews may not be worth mortgaging the future over
Matthews is still one of the premier players in the league. Injuries are starting to take their toll on him, but he can still be one of the most dynamic scorers in hockey. Plus, Flyers fans are screaming for a game-changing center. Well, here you go. He could be that guy. He can be that guy who can put his team on his back and say, "Follow Me!"Â
Despite missing 22 games to injuries this year, including a horrific hit from Radko Gudas, he still scored 27 goals with 26 assists. He may be slowing down, but that is one goal shy of Owen Tippett's 28 goals for the team lead. He is two years removed from his 69 goal season. In his ten-year career, the 27 goals are the lowest he's tallied, and that's again with him missing a quarter of the season. He would've easily had a minimum of 30-35 had he been healthy.
His kind of power, vision, and speed, combined with veteran leadership, is just what the Philadelphia Flyers could use right now. He easily could center a line with Porter Martone and Tyson Foerster or Matvei Michkov and Travis Konecny. The line combos with this young team are practically endless.
So what's it gonna cost? The only card the Flyers have here is that his salary is at $13.25 million for the next two seasons. That's a lot of money. The more salary the Flyers take on, the less they'd have to deal away. But do the Flyers want to take on that much salary after digging out of salary cap hell? However, would it be worth it for Matthews? Likewise, would the Leafs take less in return for salary cap relief?
Acquiring him is going to cost a lot, especially if other teams are clamoring for him. Yes, when a star player demands off a team, the price goes down. But if enough teams are asking for him, that cost will suddenly rise again.
Matthews won't be cheap. It will probably cost the Flyers their first round this year and at least one or both first-rounders next season. At least one top-line prospect will have to be surrendered. It might even cost a player who has made their NHL debut now: Martone? Michkov? Oliver Bonk? Denver Barkey? Maybe two of them and two first-rounders?
Here's the thing: Matthews is a great player, but there is no guarantee he can regain the form he once had. Likewise, how long can we guarantee he'd want to be here? For a year or two of his services, that is too high a price to pay, especially since the Flyers can keep the young prospects and stars around for a decade or more, God willing.Â
For Matthews, I wouldn't mind seeing him in Philly, but he is not worth mortgaging the future. If the Flyers would take on a heftier part of his salary and maybe offer a prospect or two (especially on defense---David Jiricek, Helge Grans, and someone of that ilk) and maybe a single first-rounder and some other mid-level picks, I'd consider it. I wouldn't give up the farm for him, however. The future is too bright right now to sell off everything the Flyers have been building, even for Matthews.
It's one thing to move a player, like Michkov, for someone like Gavin McKenna, who'd be under team control for years to come. The danger is that you are still mortgaging the future for an unknown quantity, but at least you can have plenty of years ahead to enjoy if it succeeds. Now, giving up some picks and prospects to pick up Adam Fantilli....that's another story.Â
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