TORONTO — As more teams are eliminated from the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the rumour mill is heating up.
It's gotten to the point where people are asking me if it's possible that I could put Auston Matthews on a trade board this summer. What I tell them is, what seemed unimaginable just a short time ago could grow some legs.
The Athletic's Chris Johnston was the first to report in a piece last week that Matthews' future was in question, writing, "Matthews has two years remaining on his contract, but still isn’t sure if he’ll be back in Toronto in the fall, according to league sources." It's notable that Matthews' agent, Judd Moldaver, could easily have squashed this storyline but, as of yet, has chosen not to.
In certain other situations around the league, we've seen star players flex their muscles. From Quinn Hughes, who ended up being traded to Minnesota, to Mikko Rantanen being traded twice in a contract year, to Connor McDavid signing a short-term extension with Edmonton and defining a window in which to win with him.
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It appears Matthews' current situation is no different. There is an expectation in his camp that players of his stature should get some assurances.
It's been noted that Matthews has two years remaining on his contract, which mirrors McDavid's deal with Edmonton. Another similarity between the two is that Toronto and Edmonton have head coaches with uncertain statuses. Both Kris Knoblauch and Craig Berube have yet to get a vote of confidence from management that they're returning next season, and on Tuesday there was a report from Frank Seravalli that the Oilers had asked Vegas for permission to speak with Bruce Cassidy.
It's foolish to believe that either management team would commit to a coach without first doing their due diligence and have a conversation with Matthews and McDavid.
Sorting out these coaching situations and, perhaps, knowing that reinforcements are on the way should be enough for both Matthews and McDavid to believe they can turn disappointing 2025-26 seasons around into true playoff pushes as soon as next April.
If that is indeed the case in Toronto, John Chayka and Mats Sundin should address the situation with Matthews now, so they can publicly put this narrative to rest quickly. Another in-person meeting with Matthews to figure things out, and a simple yet definitive statement from the organization that the franchise player isn't going anywhere, would put a nervous Leafs Nation more at ease.
At their year-end press conference, Chayka and Sundin did say that Matthews and William Nylander had an untouchable status on the roster, but that won't stop the speculation after Johnston's report.
If there's one thing I've learned in this market, it's that if you don't control the story, the story will control you. People take notice when your star player doesn't immediately slam the door on any trade chatter and reassure the fan base that he still believes this group can win.
The longer Matthews' camp stays quiet about the direction the Leafs are on and his future within it, the louder the speculation will get.
That's just life in Toronto.
To be sure, there is nothing to suggest that Matthews is packing boxes or will be demanding a trade tomorrow, but the silence creates oxygen for this rumour and stirs up heated on-air debates. And, as Mitch Marner shines for Vegas in its playoff push, the idea Matthews could also depart is understandably a worrying one for the fan base.
Matthews carries enormous weight in the Leafs organization. He’s not just the best player on the roster, he’s the identity of the franchise. So when there's uncertainty around him, even if it’s unintentional, it sends shockwaves through the entire NHL.
Other teams are paying close attention to what's going on in Toronto. The Leafs just went through another spring collapse that felt painfully familiar — too little offence when it mattered most, a subpar blue-line riddled with injuries all season, not enough grit. Rival executives know the Leafs, and their new management team, are under immense pressure, so they anticipate some degree of change. Even if there's a hint that Matthews' future in Toronto could become uncertain in the long-term, phone calls will be made. Speculation in my inner circle has the Utah Mammoth watching this situation, as they have a few of Matthews' close friends on their roster, including Clayton Keller.
Matthews and his agent probably believe they are handling things privately and professionally, and want to do it on their own terms. They are entitled to that. But in the Toronto market, this type of silence rarely stays neutral and often turns into eye-popping headlines and rumours.
And so, suddenly, an off-season blockbuster involving Matthews turns from unimaginable to a remote possibility, and will continue to evolve from there until the player's camp — or the team in a follow-up statement — puts the rumour to bed.
Will I put Matthews on an off-season trade board? If this rumour is still unresolved in the coming weeks as I work on it, there is a growing chance that he will indeed be in consideration for it.
