Popular podcast host believes Matthews is 100% done in Toronto in 2024

After seemingly outplaying the Tampa Bay Lightning for much of their first round series against back-to-back Champs, the Leafs came up short in Games 6 and 7 to draw their 6th consecutive first round exit, despite the star players showing up and Jack Campbell giving them an excellent chance to win in each of the last two games of the series. Pure and utter heartbreak.

There have been a lot of takes from around both the media and on social media about what the Leafs should do this offseason to improve the club, but according to Spittin' Chiclets Podcast co-host Ryan Whitney, it's not going to matter. Whitney believes that Auston Matthews is counting down the seconds until he can walk as a UFA.

Now, these guys have a lot of questionable takes, to say the least. That said, Whit does have a few valid points in that Matthews would be able to pick his preferred destination and that he'll sign the richest deal in NHL history. What he left out and what his co-host Biz Nasty caught was that the Leafs may (and likely will) make him an offer he can't refuse to remain a Leaf for a full 8 seasons.

All due respect to Whit, I don't think Matthews is going anywhere. He's in a market where the fanbase absolutely adores him. He's making top dollar on endorsement deals, the Leafs have a competitive team, the locker room chemistry is great, the Leafs can afford to pay him whatever he wants in a couple of years and he himself has stated on multiple occasions how much he loves Toronto. Plus, as Biz pointed out at the end of the clip, the Coyotes don't even have an NHL arena yet. Matthews is certainly not going to play in a university rink in front of 5,000 people.