Auston Matthews can end every Toronto trade rumor with one symbolic gesture at the 2026 NHL Draft
Photo credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images
Auston Matthews likely doesn't want to hear any more trade speculation, so if he wants to shut that down immediately he just needs to do one simple gesture.
When the Toronto Maple Leafs stunned the entire hockey world by earning the first overall pick after a very contentious season, it set off a wave of speculation as to not only who the team would take at first overall, but what moves they are going to make now they hit the jackpot when it comes to the draft.
There's going to be an onus on making sure that Auston Matthews is properly supported and whether it's Gavin McKenna, Ivar Stenberg, or whoever else who is coming in, they best be ready to get to work and prove to their captain he should stick around.
There's been a lot of talk as well about Matthews' future with the team considering his decade of disappointment and the fact he wants to see real change regardless of the draft pick or not.
Auston Matthews can shut every armchair fan argument down with one small gesture
But if he really wants to eliminate any noise there's one thing he could do.
Announce the pick himself.
It's not out of the norm for the NHL Draft to have celebrities and other faces make draft calls. WWE's Bayley announced Michael Misa's name last year, meanwhile Charles Barkley announced the pick for the Flyers when they drafted Porter Martone.
So why wouldn't Matthews be able to strut up there on the stage on June 26th and make the franchise-changing decision; the same he was a part of 10 years ago.
It would signal to the Maple Leafs and their fanbase that Matthews is serious about staying and unless he was viewing this as a passing of the torch moment; it's a great way to calm any prospective nerves.
With trade rumours linking him to Los Angeles, San Jose, Minnesota, the best way to keep the distractions away is to give them no reason to make any more speculative packages.
It would be a great message to everyone: The captain is all hands on deck.
What the 2026 NHL Draft means for Auston Matthews' future with the Maple Leafs
If he does end up making the selection himself, it would no doubt solidify the case that he wants to stick around through his current deal.
But it means that John Chayka, Mats Sundin and the 50 other people who are going to consult and advise cannot screw this up. You get one chance to make a decision, and ensuring you set Matthews (and yourself) up for success for years in the future is critical.
And for goodness sake, please just stick to your guns. There's going to be a meeting with Matthews soon and obviously the topic of the first overall pick is going to come up. If you commit to Gavin McKenna and Matthews is on board - don't turn around and draft Stenberg instead.
As much as you're going to have a full team next season, first and foremost you are building this team around the guy you drafted in 2016 and was expected to lead you to glory. You invested so much into him financially, time-wise, and he's given all he can for the team.
To essentially spit in the face of his desires is basically akin to pushing him off the plank, so if Chayka and Sundin aren't careful then the captain is going to abandon ship. You can't have a plan on the fly, and you have to make sure all your ducks are in a row.
June 26th not only determines whether or not Toronto gets Gavin McKenna but if their captain is truly along for the ride.
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