Sean Avery Says Leafs Won’t Make the Cup With Auston Matthews
Despite being in fourth place within the Atlantic Division, and posting a 25-14-8 record, the Toronto Maple Leafs may not be breaking out of their slump to end their playoff exit drought.
The Leafs have a star player in Auston Matthews, who was able to score 40 goals in the first 47 games, but Jeremy Roenick, Tim Peel, and guest of Bleav Network's Snipes and Stripes, Sean Avery, believe the team has what it takes to make it to the Stanley Cup Finals.
"I mean, I guess you can give a guy the MVP, but like, shouldn't it be just somebody that if their team wins kind of thing?"
via Sean Avery, Snipes and Stripes
Avery is alluding to the fact that despite Matthews scoring 85 points last season, including his 58 points, he is not enough to propel the Leafs past their stiff competition.
"Coach has been doing it for like five years in a row now. Right. Right. He wins Stanley Cups. Auston MATTHEWS. Like, I guess. Yeah. You want to you want the trophy for the most valuable player during the regular season. Like you can have it. I don't know. Do we really f****** care who gets that trophy?"
via Sean Avery, Snipes and Stripes
The MVP trophy is nice to have, but not coupling that with an actual Stanley Cup win or appearance does seem to be a bit underwhelming.
Avery goes on to state that the Leafs should have traded Matthews and Mitchell Marner for the #1 pick to select Connor Bedard.
"Yeah. I mean, honestly, listen, I said this. Maybe I'm crazy. I would have traded Marner and Matthews for Bedard. I would have traded them both for the number one pick."
via Sean Avery, Snipes and Stripes
Whether or not Bedard would have made an immediate impact, the Leafs have to find a way to take down the Tampa Bay Lightning, Boston Bruins, and Florida Panthers en route to their would-be Cup appearance. Matthews is a very skillful player, but the team's depth continues to be an issue.
James Brizuela has been a professional writer since 2019. After covering entertainment and the NFL for Sportskeeda, he now works as an Assignment Desk Editor for the LA Sports Report Network which has partnered with the Sports Illustrated FanNation Network, focusing on his expertise in LA sports at the college and professional level.