Auston Matthews talking about John Tavares, Maple Leafs captaincy, their depth up the middle, potential wingers, meeting with Mike Babcock, contract status, and his offseason.
Asked if contract talks have started at all:
“Ya, I mean they’ve obviously started. I think it’s not really something that I’m too in tune with. I kind of let my agent, management kind of handle that and focus on my summer, focus on training, getting on the ice and feeling ready for the season.”
Asked if he expects a deal done before the season starts”
“I don’t know. I think they preach patience. Obviously, Kyle and my agent, my team and everything, when it gets done, it gets done. I don’t think anybody is in to big of a rush.”
Adam Kimelman: The Maple Leafs had let James van Riemsdyk know well in advance of the start of free agency that they wouldn’t be bringing him back.
“(hard to leave Toronto?) With Toronto, that’s the respect I appreciated from them, they had told me a few weeks before free agency they were going in a different direction. You appreciate that. I enjoyed my time there, I think it was a good for me as a person, good for my career. Had a lot of great memories playing there. I always look back fondly on my time there. Telling me that beforehand was good because it allows you to assess your situation a little differently in free agency, take some of the emotion out of it hat might come from having those feelings of being some place for 6 years and then you can really start to look at things objectively.”
TSN: Dominic Moore remains unsigned, but remaining patient as the offseason winds on is nothing new to him. He’s spoken with some teams but is waiting to see how things play out.
He’s not expecting to be back with the Maple Leafs next season.
“I’m not holding out hope on that,” Moore said of re-signing with the Maple Leafs. “I think obviously they will be an exciting team to follow this year for sure. Obviously adding John (Tavares) to the program is an amazing piece to an already impressive puzzle there. I wish the Maple Leafs the best of luck. Obviously, I enjoyed my time being a part of the team and a great bunch of guys, many of whom will be at SmashFest.”
The Maple Leafs fourth-line center role is not really filled at the moment.