Insider Hints Maple Leafs Could Explore Blockbuster Trade Centered Around Auston Matthews
Photo credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
A major report has suggested the potential of the Toronto Maple Leafs having discussions over a trade involving Auston Matthews.
The scenario of Auston Matthews potentially being moved from Toronto is a situation which nearly all Leaf fans would be shocked to see happen; Matthews appears to be the safest of all Leaf players from the potential of being dealt.
Now, Matthews' future looks like it could be with slightly less certainty as the Toronto Maple Leafs analyze their future after yet another difficult playoff loss and the possible exit of teammate Mitch Marner.
On Sportsnet 590, NHL Insider Frank Seravalli referenced the potential of the Leafs going into a rebuilding stage if they can't get over the playoff hump into a team that can contend for the Stanley Cup.
Frank Seravalli Indicates Tough Conversations Needed On Leafs Long-Term Direction
Seravalli indicated that the idea of moving Auston Matthews is something that in the past would be 100% out of the realm of possibility, but Seravalli speculates the chances may have moved, even if it's 99% a bit more real depending on the team's outlook.
The playoff failures obviously extend to (Auston) Matthews as well....it's not just that though, if we're turning over every stone, if we're really talking about everything and putting it on the table, then, let's also talk about his injuries, and let's truly talk about if this is really a back injury which everyone seems to suspect that it is, how often do those injuries often get better?
Again, I think it's very unlikely anything like that happens, but inside that front office, inside those walls, those should be the exact kind of conversations they should be having is "if we're blowing it up, how deep are we planting the dynamite?" - Frank Seravalli
Again, I think it's very unlikely anything like that happens, but inside that front office, inside those walls, those should be the exact kind of conversations they should be having is "if we're blowing it up, how deep are we planting the dynamite?" - Frank Seravalli
Could An Auston Matthews Trade Really Happen?
For this offseason, an Auston Matthews trade is near unthinkable and almost a certainty not to happen, one would presume.
While the future of the Toronto Maple Leafs may undergo a radical transition with the potential departures of both star forward Mitch Marner and Brendan Shanahan, as well as having John Tavares & Matthew Knies as free agents, the Leafs could be its most different in the core-four era in philosophy.
Seravalli also pointed to the future of defenseman Morgan Rielly, and how long he has as the team's number-one D and the quarterback of the Leafs power play.
As Seravalli points out, Matthews has struggled to translate his dominance in the regular season to the postseason, and he has a mysterious injury concern that shifted his play after his return, no longer acting as the feared goalscoring threat he's been in years past.
Surely next season will still be led by Auston Matthews, but for the team to consider trading Matthews, what would need to happen is losing Mitch Marner, as well as a decrease in production from key players such as Rielly as well as Tavares if he is back, along with being out of the playoff race or exiting early yet again.
Every team in the league could use an Auston Matthews and would pay to see it done. Connor McDavid being a free agent at the end of next season adds an extra layer of questioning the current Leaf's roster in the long term.
While the Toronto Maple Leafs are unlikely to be seriously considering any type of move for Auston Matthews, the possibility of it happening is something the Leafs are trying to avoid beginning the process in which such a move may end up the most feasible.
| POLL | ||
MAI 22 | 957 ANSWERS Insider Hints Maple Leafs Could Explore Blockbuster Trade Centered Around Auston Matthews Should the Toronto Maple Leafs trade Auston Matthews if they miss the playoffs next season? | ||
| Yes | 661 | 69.1 % |
| No | 296 | 30.9 % |
| List of polls | ||
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