Toronto Maple Leafs centre Auston Matthews speaks to media during an end-of-season availability in Toronto, on May 15.Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press
While standing around the barbecue on Saturday, Maple Leafs fans may be distracted from Canada Day celebrations by something far more important to them than the anniversary of confederation: What is happening with Auston Matthews?
On July 1, the club’s star centre is eligible to sign an extension to the five-year agreement that expires at the end of the 2023-24 season. At the same time, a no-move clause takes effect, meaning Toronto needs his approval after that to trade him.
It is believed that Matthews, who has led the NHL in goals in two of his seven seasons and has been voted most valuable player once, hopes to become the highest-paid player in the league. He makes US$11.6-million a year and reportedly wants a significant raise.
Matthews and his agent, Judd Moldaver, have met several times recently with Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving without having reached an accord. Perhaps those discussions will provide some fruit or fireworks for the team’s ardent followers this weekend.
On Tuesday, Treliving announced that Sheldon Keefe will return as head coach. Keefe has been wildly successful during the regular season over three-plus years but is 13-17 in the playoffs.
“There are a lot of priorities here and Sheldon is one,” Treliving said, adding that the two met over the course of four or five days. “We had to go through a process. It was probably difficult and uncomfortable at times but I am happy and look forward to working with him.”
Keefe is yet to sign a contract but Treliving said that will be taken care of after more pressing concerns.
Matthews, of course, is No. 1 among them.
There are fans that believe that signing him is critical to the franchise’s future success. There are others that see him as a talented player but a financial anchor whose salary is already so large that it prevents management from adding more skill to the lineup. And there are others that would like to see him shipped to Florida for a crate of oranges.
Naysayers point out that Toronto has won just one round in the postseason since Matthews’s rookie campaign, so how valuable could he really be?
It is an interesting debate and one that is unwinnable by either side.
Matthews has stated it is his preference to return to Toronto but he wields considerably more leverage than the team. He is drawn to bright lights and keen on branding and would seem to be a marvellous fit in a place like Los Angeles.
But that’s mostly subjective and just me yammering on from my writer’s pulpit.
Treliving, who has only been in the job for less than a month, has a lot of work to do. He has said that signing Matthews is his priority but he also has contracts with William Nylander and Mitch Marner to consider along with a handful of free agents.
“It has been busy,” Treliving said Tuesday in Nashville, where the NHL draft takes place on Wednesday and Thursday. “It has been like drinking out of a firehose so far. It is just the timing.”
Toronto has the 28th pick on Wednesday and only two selections on Thursday – in the fifth and sixth rounds. It is all but determined that Connor Bedard, the most lionized prospect since Connor McDavid, will be chosen first by the Chicago Blackhawks.
But back to the Maple Leafs and a few things to mull.
Nylander is about to enter the final year of a contract that carries a salary cap hit of US$6,962,366. He is also eligible to sign a new deal on July 1 and is likely due for a raise after career highs with 40 goals and 87 points last season.
Marner, who has scored 99 and 97 points in each of the last two campaigns respectively, is under contract through 2024-25 and has a no-move clause in each of the next two years. He earns US$10.9-million annually and would presumably also want a larger contract.
“Everything is squeezed,” Treliving said of the salary cap. “Everything is tight.”
Matthews and Nylander, whose current lesser deal is by far the easiest to move, are at the top of Treliving’s mind.
“I am confident we are going to get both players signed until proven otherwise,” Treliving said. “It’s always good sooner than later. Having clarity always helps.
“But is it the be all and end all? No. We are certainly working toward that but after July 1 the work doesn’t stop.”
TORONTO – Reigning PWHL MVP and scoring champ Natalie Spooner will miss the start of the regular season for the Toronto Sceptres, general manager Gina Kingsbury announced Tuesday on the first day of training camp.
The 33-year-old Spooner had knee surgery on her left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) after she was checked into the boards by Minnesota’s Grace Zumwinkle in Game 3 of their best-of-five semifinal series on May 13.
She had a goal and an assist in three playoff games but did not finish the series. Toronto was up 2-1 in the semifinal at that time and eventually fell 3-2 in the series.
Spooner led the PWHL with 27 points in 24 games. Her 20 goals, including five game-winners, were nine more than the closest skater.
Kingsbury said there is no timeline, as the team wants the Toronto native at 100 per cent, but added that “she is doing really well” in her recovery.
The Sceptres open the PWHL season on Nov. 30 when they host the Boston Fleet.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 12, 2024.
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.
“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”
Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.
The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.
Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.
“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”
Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.
“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”
The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.
“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”
Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.
“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.
Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.
The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.
The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.
Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.
Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.
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