Don Cherry Gives his Honest Opinion on Auston Matthews
The Toronto Maple Leafs are currently in the NHL spotlight, following their extension of Auston Matthews' contract. The new deal has generated a range of opinions, and recently, a well-known former hockey analyst weighed in on the matter.
Cherry Weighs In
Former hockey commentator Don Cherry shared his views on Auston Matthews and his contract extension on his podcast, "Don Cherry's Grapevine." Cherry expressed initial approval upon hearing the financial terms of the contract and addressed several topics related to Matthews' deal.
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He first tackled the ongoing speculation that Matthews might sign with the Arizona Coyotes, dismissing it rather bluntly.
I don't think they could afford him in Arizona right now. Not with 5,000 people (in the arena)
Cherry then pivoted to discussing the necessity of playoff success to justify Matthews' hefty contract. Citing the Boston Bruins' dominant regular-season performance but subsequent playoff collapse, he emphasized:
The Boston Bruins will be known for the rest of their lives as the team that tore the league apart and died in the playoffs.
Expanding on this matter, Cherry insisted that Matthews' regular-season performance no longer holds much weight, stating:
It doesn't mean anything if they win 7-1. If they beat some team that comes in once a year and he gets three goals it doesn't mean a thing. It's in the playoffs that counts only playoffs.
This sentiment echoes the general feeling among Maple Leafs fans: regular-season stats are all well and good, but the ultimate aim is to win the Stanley Cup. Anything less would be a disappointment.
Was Matthews Playing Injured?
While discussing the Maple Leafs' 2023 playoff run, Cherry introduced a theory that Matthews might have been playing hurt.
I think he was hurt in the playoffs. I think his wrist was bothering him.
Cherry opined that such an injury could have significantly impacted Matthews' performance and raised questions about potential lingering issues for the upcoming season.
Lastly, Cherry praised Matthews for his ability to handle the immense pressure that comes with playing in a huge market like Toronto.
He's got an awful lot of pressure on him. He doesn't really seem to mind it though.
Overall, Cherry's commentson Matthews were largely positive. It will be intriguing to see whether his perspective changes based on Matthews' performance in the 2023-24 season and playoffs.
| POLL | ||
5 SEPTEMBRE | 217 ANSWERS Don Cherry Gives his Honest Opinion on Auston Matthews Do you think Matthews will score 50 goals or more next season? | ||
| Yes | 160 | 73.7 % |
| No | 57 | 26.3 % |
| LIST OF POLLS | ||
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