The Milan Games have wrapped up, and the NHL is gearing up to hit the ice once more. But Team USA is still riding high after their gold medal triumph on Sunday.
Auston Matthews and his teammates were spotted celebrating at a well-known Miami nightclub on Monday night. They're expected to make an appearance at the White House for the President’s State of the Union address on Tuesday afternoon.
Their celebration mirrors the kind of revelry usually reserved for a Stanley Cup win, which is unusual since it's happening mid-season. Eventually, these players will need to rejoin their NHL teams-hangovers and all.
Eight games are on the schedule for Wednesday night, including a crucial matchup between Toronto and Tampa.
On Tuesday's edition of Leafs Morning Take, the focus was on the Leafs’ captain, with Zack Phillips stepping in for Jay Rosehill. The big questions were: What should Matthews do next?
When should he rejoin the team? And would fans be upset if he misses the game against the Lightning?
We also touched on updates from Maple Leafs practice as they prepare for their back-to-back games in Florida. Dakota Joshua is set to return to the lineup for the first time since December 28th after recovering from a lacerated kidney.
Coach Craig Berube mentioned that he expects Matthews to play against the Bolts, but we'll see what condition he's in.
Hockey Hall of Famer Jeremy Roenick joined the show to share his thoughts on Team USA's Olympic Gold win. He discussed Sunday’s final, the celebrations that followed, and the significance of this victory for U.S. hockey.
Roenick was particularly impressed with Matthews’ performance in Milan, especially his defensive play, which he believes was a game-changer. Roenick is optimistic that Matthews and the Leafs can carry this momentum into the final stretch of the season.
While it won’t be easy, he believes the Leafs can fight their way back into playoff contention. Roenick added that if he were in Matthews' shoes, he would do everything possible to play against Tampa.
With the Olympic break behind us, Wednesday's edition of Leafs Morning Take promises to be exciting, with Jay Rosehill returning to preview Toronto’s visit to Tampa. Sid Seixeiro, host of The Sid Seixeiro Show, will also join to discuss the Leafs as they approach a critical period before the trade deadline.