The Nikita Kucherov mess in Tampa Bay has turned into more than just another NHL headache, and Nick Kypreos thinks the Maple Leafs should be paying very close attention.
On Thursday’s episode of Real Kyper and Bourne, the Sportsnet analyst said Toronto can’t afford to let Auston Matthews’ future drift into uncertainty. Matthews is under contract through the summer of 2028, but Kypreos argued that the Leafs need to start finding out where things stand now, not later.
His warning was direct: “You cannot leave yourself vulnerable to find things out and have it surface like it did with Kucherov in Tampa.”
Kypreos described the Lightning’s situation with Kucherov as a “disaster” and said the Leafs have to avoid getting anywhere near that kind of breakdown with their captain and franchise goal-scorer. In his view, the danger isn’t just losing a player - it’s letting the relationship sour in public.
Justin Bourne brought up the Leafs’ handling of Mitch Marner, saying Toronto waited too long to realize he wasn’t happy. By then, Bourne said, it was too late to fix it. Kypreos agreed that the warning signs matter, and he said the root of the Kucherov issue was a lack of respect and communication.
“That’s the thing that has blown up in their face,” Kypreos said.
When Bourne suggested Tampa may not have intended to re-sign Kucherov anyway, Kypreos pushed back. Even if that was the case, he said, the organization still needed to handle the situation in a way that didn’t leave the player feeling dismissed.
He even went as far as saying management might have to “lie or BS” the player just to make him believe the team is doing everything it can to work out a new deal. His point was simple: don’t let Matthews feel like he’s being brushed aside.
“Don’t have him feel like you’re disregarding him. That was the mistake. I’m not saying you have to sign him, and I’m not saying that you don’t have to trade him, but you better know exactly what you’re dealing with here, so it doesn’t become a public circus.”
Kypreos also said Tampa’s problem isn’t unique. He pointed to other star-player situations around the league, including Detroit with Dylan Larkin, Winnipeg’s fallout with Connor Hellebuyck, and Minnesota’s looming unrestricted free agency of superstar defenseman Quinn Hughes.
For Toronto, the message from Kypreos was blunt: don’t wait for the Matthews situation to turn messy before figuring out exactly where it’s headed.
In Other News...
Maple Leafs May Have Found A Real Mitch Marner Successor
The Maple Leafs have spent plenty of time looking for the right fit beside Auston Matthews, and Jack Roslovic has at least given them a compelling answer early in the season. Slotted onto Torontos top line with Matthews and Kirill Marchenko, Roslovic has looked comfortable in an elevated role and has brought the kind of pace and finishing touch that can change the feel of a line in a hurry.
Through 17 games, Roslovic has already piled up eight goals and 10 assists, putting him on track for a career-best offensive season. The next wrinkle is how Toronto handles the line when Marchenko is ready to return from a lower-body injury, because the Leafs now have to figure out whether this alignment is a short-term spark or something worth keeping intact. [Read more 🡒]
Maple Leafs Rookie Faces A New Test As Tavares Nears Return
Gavin McKennas role has shifted again as the Maple Leafs start to get healthier, with the rookie no longer working on the top power-play group and settling into a prominent spot on the second unit. It is the kind of adjustment that comes with playing on a contender, where one lineup change can ripple through the special teams setup and force a young player to keep finding ways to stay useful.
Jim Hiller has pointed to McKennas growth, especially away from the puck, as a reason the coaching staff still trusts him in an important spot. The timing matters because John Tavares is nearing a return, and the Leafs are preparing for a familiar kind of squeeze that comes when a veteran center is ready to rejoin the mix and everyone else has to adapt around him. [Read more 🡒]
Maple Leafs Face A Costly Dilemma In Pursuit Of Simon Edvinsson
The Maple Leafs are again being linked to a big swing on the blue line, with Detroit defenseman Simon Edvinsson emerging as a possible target as Toronto weighs how aggressive it wants to be. The appeal is obvious: Edvinsson is a young, high-end defender who could fit a long-term need, but any pursuit would come with the usual Toronto problem of paying a premium in both trade assets and future flexibility.
There is still no confirmation of official talks or an agreement between the clubs, but the cost of even getting into the conversation looks steep. Edvinsson is currently without a contract and is believed to be chasing a major extension, which only adds another layer to the dilemma for Toronto as it tries to decide whether the fit is worth the price. [Read more 🡒]