Should Auston Matthews leave the Maple Leafs?
The 21st-century edition of the Toronto Maple Leafs has been a tough but fascinating team to follow. They haven’t won a playoff series since 2004 and spent more time drifting out of Stanley Cup contention for years. That all changed in 2016 when they drafted franchise center Auston Matthews first overall. Since then, the Leafs have assembled an elite core, and Matthews has flourished into perhaps the best or 2nd best player in the NHL only behind Connor McDavid. They’re the new faces of the league, but in the case of Matthews, he is suffering through the curse of the Leafs: no playoff success. Another first-round exit continues to haunt the Leafs. How much more needs to change for them to win a playoff series? More importantly, how much longer will Matthews put up with the lack of success? 2021-22 was Matthews’ best season since he was drafted. He scored 60 goals, the most by an American player, and set a franchise record in points. He’s easily the best American hockey player right no...