The only reason you trade Matthews is if he will not re-sign.

You cannot let him get to the final year of that contract unsigned when he has a no-movement clause.

This is exactly what I expect the Leafs to do.
- Aetherial

I believe that he can't sign a new contract until he is in the final year of his current contract.

Down Goes Brown had a good tweet basically saying you need breaks and calls by the refs can be good or bad breaks.

Yes, that was a pick, although it really does look like Holl tries to get out of the way. Also, it is an extremely rare penalty called, probably happens every game multiple times. Let's look at the circumstances.

Extremely rare penalty to ever call. The contact was very marginal, almost none at all. Game 7, team called is down a goal. Stuff being let go all over the ice, then THAT gets called.

This, on the heels of an out and out blown call costing the Leafs the tying goal in game 6, and a ref watching Killorn grabbing Matthews sweater for like 3 seconds and deciding not to call that.

I get that trolls gonna troll, but anyone who thinks they wouldn't feel like the refs influenced the series if it was their team, is just a (frank)ing liar.

Bottom line, Tampa got some pretty big breaks from the refs, and the Leafs got none and this poop happens every year.
- Aetherial

Valid and commonly held point of view by many Leaf fans, especially this morning.

Let's assume, just for the moment, that NHL referees are biased against the Leafs.

Why do you think there is an NHL officiating bias against the Leafs? I can't imagine the league as a whole favours the idea that the Leafs never get past the first round of the playoffs. If anything you would think the Leafs advancing deep into the playoffs would be exceptionally good for business revenue for all league partners.

The only reason you trade Matthews is if he will not re-sign.

You cannot let him get to the final year of that contract unsigned when he has a no-movement clause.

This is exactly what I expect the Leafs to do.
- Aetherial

It's what all of us expect the leafs to do, because they can't even extend him until he's entering that final year.

My way too early offseason motives

1.Get rid of Mrazek and get a cheaper option as 1B

2.Keep Mikheyev-Kampf-Engvall together

3.I like Kase...but could probably get a nice pick for his RFA rights. His injury history is too sticky for a cap strapped team like the Leafs

4.Trade Kerfoot and get someone with some jam(seems like JT plays better with those types)


Come back with the same main pieces minus Kerfoot. The only big change I would explore is Muzzin but I am fine if he's back.

I believe that he can't sign a new contract until he is in the final year of his current contract.
- bobbyisno1

I think he can sign mid season next year.

did you guys all make a Hari Kari pact without me?
- The Law

Isn’t that the goalie we lost on waivers to Arizona? 😝
- bartsch

lmfaooooooooo 🤣

I have watched the Tavares goal multiple times and it really is a hard one to call.

1. I think the penalty was called because the goal was scored. If Tavares had not scored there would not have been a penalty call.

2. The player that got picked off was Cirelli. He is an outstanding defensive player and I am sure in the officials mind he thinks there is no way that Tavares would have been that open without Cirelli having been picked off.

3. Some folks say it was just a small pick and maybe the officials could have let it go. Again, I think it was the goal that made the pick stand out and believe the referee hesitated on the call but could not ignore it once he saw the puck go in the net.

4. Imagine the noise that would be coming from the other side this morning if the referee had allowed the goal.

5. NHL referee in playoffs is a tough job.

Trotz+queenville+anderson+chichirun+poon jenner-floater willi-pencil neck female dog-hole+Paul or moron=parade😍👍🏿

Trotz+queenville+anderson+chichirun+poon jenner-floater willi-pencil neck female dog-hole+Paul or moron=parade😍👍🏿
- Skalapy

E= mc2- Hulk down

Mathews wasn't the problem, it's the diaper wearing Leaf players that are the problem.
- bobbyisno1

I’d agree Matthews wasn’t the “problem” but he also didn’t do what McDavid did which was pretty much single handedly carry his team when it really mattered.

So what’s the ban count in this thread so far???

You also told us how wonderful Vladimir Putin is.

Just....disappear again.
- fifty__missions

Did he really? Bigger clown than I thought.

You also told us how wonderful Vladimir Putin is.

Just....disappear again.
- fifty__missions

Max and LordHumungous…same poster?? I think maybe…yes.

I’d agree Matthews wasn’t the “problem” but he also didn’t do what McDavid did which was pretty much single handedly carry his team when it really mattered.
- TurdFergeson

No argument that McDavid was great, but the difference in the quality of his opponent was stark.

Roger brought his good luck back again this year.

I’d agree Matthews wasn’t the “problem” but he also didn’t do what McDavid did which was pretty much single handedly carry his team when it really mattered.
- TurdFergeson

Again, I have to say, He's the only one on that line with any man strength. At least Mcdavid had line mates that could dig out the puck and play the boards.

I’d agree Matthews wasn’t the “problem” but he also didn’t do what McDavid did which was pretty much single handedly carry his team when it really mattered.
- TurdFergeson

Matthews doesn’t have the ability to go end to end and score like McDavid. He can and did do a (frank) of a lot but he needs a structure and a playmaker. He’s never going to score at a 60 goal rate in the playoffs but I have absolutely no complaints about his or Marner’s play in these ones

Max and LordHumungous…same poster?? I think maybe…yes.
- TurdFergeson

No. The Lord revels in his his dumbness. Max shines in his pretend brains.

I have watched the Tavares goal multiple times and it really is a hard one to call.

1. I think the penalty was called because the goal was scored. If Tavares had not scored there would not have been a penalty call.

2. The player that got picked off was Cirelli. He is an outstanding defensive player and I am sure in the officials mind he thinks there is no way that Tavares would have been that open without Cirelli having been picked off.

3. Some folks say it was just a small pick and maybe the officials could have let it go. Again, I think it was the goal that made the pick stand out and believe the referee hesitated on the call but could not ignore it once he saw the puck go in the net.

4. Imagine the noise that would be coming from the other side this morning if the referee had allowed the goal.

5. NHL referee in playoffs is a tough job.
- spatso

Whistle went way before the goal.

Again, I have to say, He's the only one on that line with any man strength. At least Mcdavid had line mates that could dig out the puck and play the boards.
- bobbyisno1

Mitch has Schwarzenegger edge work. They need to upgrade Bunting

Matthews doesn’t have the ability to go end to end and score like McDavid. He can and did do a (frank) of a lot but he needs a structure and a playmaker. He’s never going to score at a 60 goal rate in the playoffs but I have absolutely no complaints about his or Marner’s play in these ones
- Canada Cup

If I could pick one player that deserves a long playoff run it would be McDavid. But I don’t see it happening this year.

Not calling interference on Tampa's first goal where the Leafs d-man is pinned and can't get back and then calling it on what should have been Toronto's first goal is absolutely insane

Mathews wasn't the problem, it's the diaper wearing Leaf players that are the problem.
- bobbyisno1

yep too many, especially a giant guy like holl with zero toughness in him...

not winning with that kind of roster...

I’d agree Matthews wasn’t the “problem” but he also didn’t do what McDavid did which was pretty much single handedly carry his team when it really mattered.
- TurdFergeson

not gonna lie , I expected a bit more from matthews last night ....but tampa did play some ridiculous good shot blocking and positional defence....they know what the (frank) they are doing ....

Whistle went way before the goal.
- Garnie

why kill a good story