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Brad Treliving speaks on Auston Matthews trade speculation
Photo credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images (left), Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images (right)
Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving discussed Auston Matthews' future with the team and shut down any potential trade rumours regarding the captain.
Addressing the media after the firing of Marc Savard, Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving was trying to give some clarity as to the decision and what the team is going to be doing looking ahead to 2026.
He threw his full support behind Craig Berube, and explained that in the meantime it will be up to Derek Lalonde to help run the power play now that Savard is gone, but another big talking point was brought up as well.
Auston Matthews staying put; Toronto wants to add
Given the team's struggles as of late and the fact that captain Auston Matthews has been pretty much invisible recently, some were wondering if that could potentially lead to a trade down the line. It would be a stunning deal to say the least, but with the team needing change after a decade; it could be time.
However Treliving decided that entire situation was nonsense, and decided to put it to rest once and for all in front of the media:
I don't think we are turning the page on the season. You continue to monitor the team and know what is going on around the league. You are having discussions with different teams. We are not here waving a white flag.
This confirms Treliving's previous desires to continue to add and also helps confirm a lot of the speculation we've heard over the recent weeks regarding who and what the Maple Leafs might be targeting.
Toronto can certainly add, but it's up to Matthews to produce again
They missed out on Mason Marchment but they still have been linked to names like Rasmus Andersson, Brayden Schenn, and even Nazem Kadri is still poking his head around here and there.
If the team really just needed a wake-up call, and got one in Savard's firing then maybe it will be just enough of a kick in the pants (and combined with a break) to give the team a lot of confidence coming back against Ottawa on the 27th.
Trading Matthews would be something the team would decide to do in the summer anyways, when they can properly reassess things and not while they are in the middle of the season. Yes, Quinn Hughes got traded but that doesn't mean Matthews will; that feels like a huge outlier.
But you have to wonder when Matthews is going to start performing like he used to, because the team is paying him over $13-million to be an average player.
If he continues down this path, then Treliving may need to think twice about committing long-term again and maybe getting some big assets back for his captain.