After a couple of days to think it over, I still say flush all of these guys.
Whether you want to keep him or not or however much of the blame you think should be directed his way, I think the bottom line is that Matthews is leaving in the summer of 2024 for one of LA, NYR or Chicago.
I’m sure he’d have stuck around if he was getting paid AND the Leafs were a contender. But he’s not sticking around for whatever the hell this is, to answer the endless questions from endless media members about this group’s accumulated failures and to absorb the rage and disappointment of Leaf fans.
So trade him before his NMC kicks in on July 1st, or watch him walk out the door for nothing following one more crushing playoff disappointment next spring.
And then of course, boot Mitch Caillou and anyone else with trade value out the door behind him.