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Leafs mailbag: A minister loses faith, and two views on Gary Bettman’s future

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Leafs mailbag: A minister loses faith, and two views on Gary Bettman’s future

My favourite letter of the week will be unpublished, at the writer’s request.

But let me get to a taste of what “Peter C.” wrote, a harsh take on the Leafs sent to me after the first intermission of Thursday’s game. You know, right after that terrible five-on-three power play that produced, well, nothing. It was a heartfelt letter that described everything he thought was wrong with the team.You know: soft passes, idiotic mistakes, fire the GM.

Then the Leafs won. John Tavares tied it with 42 seconds to go. William Nylander won it overtime.

Peter C. then wrote another letter, putting it succinctly: “Please disregard my last letter.”

I don’t mean to embarrass Peter C. I mean, they were terrible in the first period, especially on that five-on-three. But the game is 60 minutes, if not longer. The season is 82 games. Be calm. Breathe.

And consider Yours Truly. I have to file 700 words at the buzzer. For 59 minutes the theme was “Leafs lose, squander their chances.” Then along come Tavares and Nylander. As the old saying in the newspaper biz goes: “Get me rewrite.”

Anyway, happy to have a little fun at the top of the Mailbag. It’s been rough week in the NHL. Gary Bettman’s performance was shameful when dealing with Kyle Beach. The Jets’ Kevin Cheveldayoff was better “theatre,” but that’s not really what it’s all about.

So this week’s Mailbag might be a bit heavy. There’s more to it, of course. A minister no longer has faith in the Leafs. But maybe there are too many Debbie Downers out there, writes another. Bruce is back, and he still doesn’t like William Nylander.

But here we go.

As always, if you have a question, email me at [email protected] and I’ll answer it in the next Mailbag. Let’s get Mailbaggin’.

QUESTION: Hi, Kevin. Thanks for using your voice in a positive manner to force some long overdue change in the league, including the suggestion that it is time for Bettman to find his replacement and step aside. Hopefully it is someone more progressive akin to the hockey version of Adam Silver (NBA commissioner) who really seems to get it. I think there was one other reason why some fans show disdain for Gary Bettman that I’ll add to your list; he’s (NYC) Jewish and there’s still too much anti-Semitic ignorance and rhetoric in the hockey world, I suspect.

Vegas ROBBED Buffalo in that Eichel trade if he can bounce back … pun intended! I say this both in terms of the return Buffalo received and also that he has another 4.5 years left on his eight-year contract at $10 million AAV. It has long frustrated me that most other teams locked up their Eichels and McDavids for max term (eight year) contracts, but the Leafs were only able to lock up Matthews for five years, Nylander and Marner for six years. Nylander’s AAV (with the benefit of hindsight) is at least in line with a contract of that duration. Was this a gross error by Leafs management? How Marner got that $AAV with only a six-year term is … egregious bordering on patently absurd.

THRILLED that Rielly is back for eight years. Heart and soul of this team. He’s now TWICE given hometown discounts leaving tens of millions (over a 14-year period) on the table because he bleeds blue & white. That’s leadership! #GODFORLIFE (hope you’re reading Auston/Mitch/Willy).

Thanks as always

— Bill L.

ANSWER: Thanks Bill, but I don’t think I’m “forcing” change in the league. Talking about it, yes, but it’s up to the league. Bettman has been very good for owners. And you could argue his “horrible” appearance in talking about Beach had the effect of putting all the disdain on him, and deflecting it from the Blackhawks. He takes a lot of bullets for the league. (And yes, Bettman has been the target of too much anti-Semitism.)

As for the Leaf contracts, if they only had Matthews they might have been able to sign him for eight years. If they only had Marner they might have been able to sign him for eight years. They had both, plus John Tavares and Nylander.

If Matthews and Marner had signed for longer, their AAV would go up. That’s true across the board. Why? The team is buying years of free agency. What’s Matthews worth as a free agent? (Remember how the world was pre-pandemic, pre-flat cap?) He’d easily be projected at $15 million, maybe more. So add $45 million and three years to his deal, and the AAV gets up to $12.8 million. McDavid is $12.5 million. So Matthews (and Marner) also took shorter team-friendly deals. Remember, they could get hurt before their next deal kicks in.

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