TOP CLICKS: The week that was in viral stories

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The Toronto Sun takes you straight to the heart of the action.

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Whether it’s local news, provincial and national politics, or the worlds of celebrity and sports, we have you covered.

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Some stories set the world on fire. And these ones are the most popular online stories from the past seven days, clicked on by Sun readers like you.

Here are our top stories:

Auston Matthews explains why he was out of Maple Leafs lineup

Following another devastating and disappointing post-season, the first question posed to Auston Matthews on Maple Leafs’ locker cleanout day was about his health and what forced him to miss Games 5 and 6 in the first — and only — round for the Buds this year.

The league’s leading scorer explained he “got really, really sick” after Game 2, played Games 3 and 4 though neither game was easy, then kept it vague, saying he “took a weird hit” and “couldn’t go any longer,” Lance Hornby reported.

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Matthews was obviously disappointed and frustrated to miss the important games, but he remained proud of his teammates for coming back for a Game 7.

Leafs GM Brad Treliving went into further detail on Friday about all the injuries and illnesses suffered by his players and divulged that Matthews was held out of the two games in part because of fears of a concussion, related to a Game 4 hit that was causing him head issues, combined with an illness that the team initially feared was food poisoning.

Federal gov’t sparks outrage for giving newcomers free access to Canada’s parks

It’s no secret Canada has dozens of national parks and historic sites to enjoy, but while most Canadians must pay an fee to enter federal parks, those who are new to the country don’t have to pay to access the gorgeous spots.

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Parks Canada recently announced “newcomers to Canada and new Canadian citizens” can access the aforementioned gorgeous spots for free, Denette Wilford reported.

However, people on social media who aren’t considered “new” were understandably irked that all Canadians aren’t given free admission.

WARMINGTON: Suspected LCBO bandit on bail at time of deadly wrong-way 401 crash

The driver of a van killed in a head-on crash was fleeing from cops, allegedly after an attempted LCBO robbery, was facing charges for two other liquor store robberies, Joe Warmington reported.

Gagandeep Singh, 21, was released on $2,000 bail this winter by a Justice of the Peace in a Hamilton court and was set to return to Milton court on May 14.

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While out, he figured he would attempt another robbery before speeding the wrong way on Hwy. 401 in Whitby in an attempt to evade Durham cops, and ending up in a crash that also claimed the lives of a three-month-old boy and his grandparents visiting from India.

According to sources, Singh had been in Canada for a short time as a foreign student from India but had fallen into a narcotics dependency.

Warmington asked, should he have been out on bail, behind bars awaiting trial, maybe a drug treatment facility?

In the name of a baby and his grandparents, there needs to be a meaningful answer.

WARMINGTON: Drake’s security guard shot outside of rapper’s Toronto mansion

Drake was not the victim of a shooting at his mansion in Toronto’s Bridle Path neighbourhood earlier this week, but one of his security guards stationed at the front of the Park Lane Circle home was.

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The 48-year-old guard was “standing outside the gates in front of the home” when he was struck by gunshots, Warmington reported.

The victim was rushed to the trauma centre at Sunnybrook via an emergency run and remains in hospital.

While there is no known motive for this shooting, it does come amid an ongoing rap feud between Drake and Kendrick Lamar. But they wouldn’t go that far, right?

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SIMMONS SAYS: Heads should roll for miserable Blue Jays season

Will Ross Atkins’ ninth season as general manager of the Blue Jays be his last?

Steve Simmons certainly seems to think so — but his firing should happen after the GM cans manager John Schneider.

If that happens, and Schneider is replaced by Don Mattingly, fingers crossed, that would be Atkins’ fourth skipper in less than nine years on the job.

While that’s not a great track record, the problem goes beyond Atkins. That’s right, Simmons is looking at you, Mark Shapiro, who may be the Jays’ CEO and president but GM could easily be tacked on to that in his resume, though perhaps in a silent role.

The Jays have the eighth-highest payroll in the MLB but are last in the AL East and 12th overall in the division. Something’s not working, clearly, which means something’s gotta give or someone’s gotta go.

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