Matthews on Leafs' Future: 'Worst is Behind Us'

0:00On April 16th, Austin Matthews finally spoke to the media after that brutal season-ending leg injury last month. His left leg still swollen and braced up, and he just ditched the crutches. The Toronto Maple Leafs captain sounded upbeat, saying the worst is behind them after a rough year where they finished with the fifth worst record in. The NHL, missing playoffs for the first time in his nine seasons there. Earlier this week, right after the regular season wrapped, Matthews stressed he's all in on fixing things. The team's hunting for a new general manager, and maybe a new coach, but he believes in the room and expects a quick bounce back, pointing to Boston's. Turn around last year, they tanked, traded Brad Martian, then grabbed the East Top Wild Cards spot. Fans and pundits are buzzing about the impact on the core guys like William Nylander, John Tveris, Matthew Nees, and new defenseman, Chris Taniv, who missed most games hurt. After drafting Matthews in 2016, the least missed playoffs 10 of 11 years, so this flop

1:03hits hard, stirring talk of a retool or full. Rebuild. New details show coach Craig Baroube expects to return next season, but that'll hinge on the incoming front office. Meanwhile, Matthews' buddy Mitch Marner bolted to Vegas last summer, and that team's dominating the Pacific, got folks wondering if Austin sticks. Now when his deal expires in two years, a lot rides on the summer's moves, from draft lottery risks, they can lose their first rounder to Boston to stocking prospects. Matthews stayed vague on a short retool, saying its management's call, but his futures tied tight to whatever direction they pick. That wraps NHO news today, brought to you with AI.