leafman101
Well-known member
And that also frustrated Dubas btw. He tried to get to report the board directly as a last minute demand which is why Shanny fired him.
The Official 2026 Off-Season Thread: Revenge of the Nerds
- Thread starter MindzEye
- Start date
BRUTAL
CH1
The Artist Formerly Known as chiggins.
What if it has nothing to do with Berube, who seems like a dead man walking at this point?
What if it's a schism about how to deal with his chronic health issue (wouldn't be the first such friction in pro sports)
I find the whole thing odd. Matthews doesn't need to telegraph whatever disdain he has for Berube.
MindzEye
Wayward Ditch Pig
That's plausible, and if that's the case let him treat it however he wants. The Sabres kind of fucked up by insisting that Eichel have the surgery that would leave him a broken old man when he wanted the fancy new (and somewhat untested) shit, didn't they?
I do kind of disagree that Matthews doesn't need to telegraph his disdain though. We're a glacially slow organization that prefers inaction over action. It's also not just about Berube, but about changing the way we play, fixing the blueline, etc. If Matthews actually didn't want to be in Toronto the trade request would already be in. That he's leaning on the organization says he wants to stay, but he needs the obvious shit that's wrong with us fixed before he commits to it.
trujaysfan
Well-known member
Berube makes less than a single home playoff games gate admission... rounding error in the Leafs world.
I would love to get Kane here and then McKenna doesn't need to start with Matthew's as he adjusts to the league.
I would love to get Kane here and then McKenna doesn't need to start with Matthew's as he adjusts to the league.
MindzEye
Wayward Ditch Pig
That's a good UFA class. Way better than 2025 & 2023, better than 2022, a bit worse than 2024.
CH1
The Artist Formerly Known as chiggins.
why not do all that in person with John/Mats....brand new regime open to feedback
he doesn't have to use media sources or whatever channels to get this out as Berube is already hanging by a thread, probably still employed because they want one honest download from him before they hand him his $8M walking papers.
MindzEye
Wayward Ditch Pig
It's within the realm of reason that he's using a public pressure campaign to make sure his list of wants is implemented. I do think the "decision" bit is overblown though. He'll be at camp here regardless but anything short of a 1st half return to form and the rumbles will start.
CH1
The Artist Formerly Known as chiggins.
That's a good UFA class. Way better than 2025 & 2023, better than 2022, a bit worse than 2024.
if they all make it to UFA...ie Andersson looks poised to stay in Vegas (just waiting on them to clear space), Tuch likely stays in Buffalo
Preston
MBow30 alt account
Definitely the berube thing is a small thing at most in auston's head. If it was as easy as fire berube and Matthew stays, he'd be fired already. Way more to it than that.
I mean he just spent the last few weeks watching the entire media and hockey world mock them and laugh at them for how they handled everything, who they hired, and lack of future. He's not on forumice crunching the numbers and figuring out that maybe they can turn this around quickly and become respectable again. The media and noise are what drives most player opinions, and he's likely looking at this as somewhat of a circus right now. And right now it's John's job to reassure him.
I didn't need CJ to tell me this though. This was always going to be the case with his contract up in 2 years and the team being one of the worst teams in the league last year.
I mean he just spent the last few weeks watching the entire media and hockey world mock them and laugh at them for how they handled everything, who they hired, and lack of future. He's not on forumice crunching the numbers and figuring out that maybe they can turn this around quickly and become respectable again. The media and noise are what drives most player opinions, and he's likely looking at this as somewhat of a circus right now. And right now it's John's job to reassure him.
I didn't need CJ to tell me this though. This was always going to be the case with his contract up in 2 years and the team being one of the worst teams in the league last year.
CH1
The Artist Formerly Known as chiggins.
it's obvious tho...the plan is to get better, especially on D and overhaul the playing style (ie get rid of Berube)
what is there to "know"
CH1
The Artist Formerly Known as chiggins.
Dude he was injured the last month -- if he didn't spend some of that extra free time on this site crunching the numbers and looking at Net Ratings, then is he really captain material?
hockeylover
Well-known member
zeke
Well-known member
eh i don't know that he wants to play gm or anything.
I think it's understandable after treliving's disaster class and the new hire (especially the media reaction to it) Matthews might want some reassurances about what exactly is going on around here, tho.
zeke
Well-known member
An overhaul of the front office and a terrible year on ice could easily mean some kind of tear it down rebuild which he wouldn't be interested in. Knowing that they intend to contend would be one thing to know.
Also, I'm sure he'd like a detailed breakdown of exactly how they view the current roster and what they think they can do to improve it to the necessary level.
Of course, these rumors all started before we won mckenna, so it's likely all moot now. But Chayka/Mats sitting down with him and explaining to him that they absolutely think they can contend asap and how and why they can do that seems to be pretty straightforward tbh.
MindzEye
Wayward Ditch Pig
Eh, I'm not as bullish on either staying. Vegas has historically found a way to clear cap, but their current situation is a bit different with almost 100 million earmarked for next year already. Even subtracting AP's 8.8 million, that's 92 million with 9 forwards and 5 D under contract. The most pressing issue there is that Dorofeyev is an RFA after scoring 72 goals the past 2 seasons combined. AFP has him projected at 6x8.5, but with the tax advantage in Nevada I could see that closer to 8.
As for Tuch, the rumour is that ownership flinched at an 8x8 extension ask last summer. His UFA market value is probably closer to 10.5x7 in 7 weeks. He's an upstate NY boy and all, so maybe that's a thing and the Sabres had a good season so maybe that makes ownership a bit more willing to budge. But of all of the teams in the league who could struggle to keep up with a rising cap number, Buffalo is close to the top of the list.
zeke
Well-known member
just took a look. even with filling the bottom slots with league min type players, I still see them having only $9m (basically pietro's ltir) to spend on one good forward and one good dman. That's enough for one of Dorofyev/Andersson, not both.
the only spot they could realistically cut money without hurting themselves would be finding a taker for A.Hill's $6.25 x5yr remaining contract, but i'm not sure how many takers would be out there for a 30yr old platoon goalie coming off a horrible and injured year with that kind of contract.
basically all they have is Pietro's LTIR money:
Feyd
Well-known member
I don't blame Matthews one bit for wanting to know what the plan is. Clearly there was no plan for as long as Treliving was here (aside from getting "long, hard D"), no matter what he may have promised him in private. Buried him statistically. Burnt once, twice shy.
"So, Brad, is there a plan moving forward?" "Yes, there will be a plan..." two and a half years into the job was the cherry on top.