The Toronto Maple Leafs and Auston Matthews have confirmed their commitment to each other
Sportsnet: Elliotte Friedman, when asked about the Toronto Maple Leafs and Auston Matthews, and if their long-term commitment to each other is still in a good place with all the problems that have gone to Toronto this year.
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“But you know, first of all, nothing has changed. There was a conversation this week between the Maple Leafs and Matthews’ representation, they just asked, ‘Is there anything different here with the way we’ve gone this season? Is there any reason for the Maple Leafs to believe that Matthews won’t want to come back 26-27 or Matthews to believe that the Maple Leafs will want 2 Maples back?’
And both parties confirm their commitment to each other. So I know it’s a big question you just asked, but the answer is, no change. Matthews and them and the Maple leaves and Matthews.
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The Toronto Maple Leafs have started talking to teams to see if there is any interest in their players
Sportsnet: Elliotte Friedman, when asked about the Toronto Maple Leafs and what they might want to do before the NHL trade deadline.
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Ron MacLean: “That being said, what is Toronto going to do here?
Friedman: “Now, there’s something different. Look, everybody sees where they stand. Everybody sees that the Maple Leafs are in a situation they didn’t expect to be in. And one thing they did this week is start the process of calling the league and see what’s available to them. And being in a situation where they might have to consider some things they didn’t expect to consider.
Now, the important thing that I heard is that they never discussed, like, anything that someone would worry about, that they would call unusual or big or strange. I think some of the first conversations are about what to expect.
But they’ve started talking around the league about, ‘What do you think about our roster? What kind, what kind of things would you like to be interested in?’ But I don’t think it would be anything or anyone at the moment would think of shattering the world or anything.
MacLean: “I was asking you, Elliotte, Justin Bourne, and you were discussing, Justin wrote about, the fact that the Leafs trade Brandon Carlo and have the top pick of the first round given to Boston, but the top five is protected. In other words, if they fall to 28th or lower. They have a shot at the lottery. They have a shot at some of these top guys. Jabula Bukala says it’s a really good franchise. So do you think that’s a factor here?
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Friedman: “I just think where they are is huge, it’s a huge thing. As the gap opens up in the East. And, you know, the old Bill Parcells line, you are what your record says you are.”
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