Despite the contract having been signed, one of the most intriguing storylines in the National Hockey League is the long-term future of superstar forward Auston Matthews with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
As you know, he was re-signed by the Leafs and new general manager Brad Treliving to a four-year contract that will keep him a member of the team through 30 years of age when he's still in his prime. Is he setting the stage for an exit upon the end of his new deal?
As fans try and figure out what Matthews' long-term strategy is, one well-known figure who never shies away from speaking his mind happens to be former Hockey Night in Canada host Don Cherry. Of course, one of the prevailing theories was that Matthews could elect to take his talents back to his home state of Arizona and join the Coyotes, who continue to be the butt-end of jokes everywhere for their arena situation.
According to Grapes, there's a simple reason why he thinks that a move to the Coyotes won't happen.
"I don't think they could afford him in Arizona right now," he said. "Not with 5,000 people (in the arena)".
Meanwhile, Cherry took aim at the Leafs lack of postseason success. Despite the fact that Toronto finally won a playoff series for the first time since the introduction of YouTube to the rest of the world, they once again found their season ending early in a quick five-game setback against the eventual Eastern Conference Champion Florida Panthers.
"It doesn't mean anything if they win 7-1," Cherry said of the Leafs and Matthews. "If they beat some team that comes in once a year and he gets three goals it doesn't mean a thing. It's in the playoffs that counts only playoffs."
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