Don Cherry rips Auston Matthews’ dress code: ‘HE’S GOING TO A BBQ’

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Don Cherry has some bitter grapes over the Toronto Maple Leafs’ relaxed gown code.

Earlier this month, the Solar’s Lance Hornby reported that the membership was letting its gamers gown in “enterprise informal” on recreation days.

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This got here days after Leafs centre Auston Matthews voiced his displeasure with the NHL’s strict gown code in an interview with ESPN.

“I don’t thoughts carrying a go well with, however it will get outdated fairly fast,” Matthews mentioned. “I feel it’d be enjoyable to put on various things and be capable of categorical your self, much like what the NBA does and even the NFL somewhat bit.”

“I’m with (Matthews),” mentioned Mitch Marner of getting away from the code. “It’s good to specific your self. We’ll see. It’s a must to be certain that the sport on the ice is identical.”

However the 24-year-old Matthews, who led the NHL with 41 targets in 52 video games final season, caught the ire of the previous Hockey Night time in Canada broadcaster who aired his grievance with the Leafs celebrity on his podcast, Don Cherry’s Grapevine.

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“I’d like to speak about Matthews for a minute,” Cherry mentioned. “The main scorer final yr — the main scorer in the entire league final yr. Every part was going nice … I’d say him and Henrik (Lundqvist) have been one, two in getting dressed. They have been fairly sharp guys.

“However evidently it was fairly powerful for him to dress. Ten-million {dollars} and he can’t dress? So that you see him coming in now, he used to return in with (Mitch) Marner on a regular basis, and you’ll’t say he’s a slob, however it’s like he’s going to a barbecue. I don’t perceive it.”

Thus far on the season, the Leafs are 2-4-1, placing them in sixth place within the Atlantic.

In the meantime, Matthews, who returned to the lineup final week, has one aim and no assists.

“ who’s getting all of the targets? The fellows on one and two-year contracts, as a result of they know they must be good,” Cherry mentioned.

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“I simply don’t perceive. This man had every thing going for him final yr and now he comes and adjustments every thing. We present him coming in and he has an outdated sweater on.”

Cherry went on so as to add that it was a superb factor he bought fired from Hockey Night time in Canada when he did.

“I by no means would have lasted. I’d have mentioned one thing about him … I wager you (Sidney) Crosby has his shirt and tie,” he mentioned.

“Matthews had an awesome yr final yr. Why change issues? Why exit of your approach? It’s an enormous deal. And Hockey Night time in Canada agrees with him, they agree with everybody. They mentioned, ‘They’re discovering their approach in life.’ They’re not discovering their approach in life. It’s placing a shirt and tie on … he was a Rocket Richard (trophy winner) final yr and this yr he modifies every thing.”

mdaniell@postmedia.com