The Matthews conversation is coming and his NMC means Toronto has almost no leverage
Photo credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
Elliotte Friedman broke down the trade talks around Auston Matthews, but does it actually spell the end of the captain's Maple Leafs tenure?
Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews had his name floated about in a couple of potential trade scenarios ahead of the trade deadline which would see him move for a massive haul of picks and young pieces, though that was never expected to happen.
Friedman: The real conversation will happen this summer
But Elliotte Friedman poured cold water all over those hot takes as he explained during Saturday's Headlines segment that Matthews was never getting dealt but that they are looking to see where his head is at after the season:
First of all, 0.0% chance was getting dealt at the deadline, but I think at the end of the season they're going to sit down and have a conversation with them.
It might actually not be right at the end of the year, they might wait a little bit to see how everything unfolds and what they decide to do and where they stand and where everything is going.
It might actually not be right at the end of the year, they might wait a little bit to see how everything unfolds and what they decide to do and where they stand and where everything is going.
Matthews makes $13.25-million to score goals, and over the last two seasons he's done barely any of that with only 59 goals over the last 125 games.
Sure he's been injured, but this is someone who scored 69 goals in a single-season, and looks more like a two-way 2C than a superstar scorer, which is a lot of why Craig Berube has received a lot of criticism since being hired by Toronto.
For someone who just proved he can lead a team to the highest levels of success at the 2026 Olympics, he may feel that his talents would be better used elsewhere and give him a chance to consistently win and want to go somewhere he can.
Matthews committed in 2023 but that was a much different team
However there is a bit of a caveat to the situation. When Matthews re-signed his new deal in 2023, he was all-in as long as things go completely 'off the rails' as Friedman also noted.
Where they stand now is not good, and with no real direction in place, it's going to take a lot to convince him to stick around especially if he's not guaranteed a playoff spot.
Remember, Matthews had just lost the playoffs but saw the potential the team had but committed just enough to see things out. It has a feeling of foresight attached to it, where if it didn't happen in the four years after he re-signed -- he was out.
While it seems a little crazy to trade him away, the logistics of the situation show that right now is as good a time as any to at least open the conversation.
The NMC changes things as Matthews holds all the leverage
This begs the question though: Does Toronto really trade Matthews?
Matthews has the most protection possible as he can't be moved anywhere without approving, so really it's up to him. If a team like Los Angeles wants him, they could certainly give Toronto everything they need but if Matthews doesn't think he can win with the Kings in due order, then he may nix it.
It's going to be a fight between finding a place Matthews wants to play and getting a proper package back for him without feeling cheated.
If he loves a place like Minnesota, will the Wild be willing to send pieces like Brock Faber and Matt Boldy the other way? That also leaves Matthews shorthanded in his quest to win and again -- he holds all the cards.
And if he doesn't end up waiving and heading elsewhere, that leaves Toronto rebuilding around a player who might not want to stick things out the entire way.
It's potentially a reason why a trade hasn't been entertained. Of course, Toronto has wanted to win and keeping Matthews around has been the MO. But it's been ten years of disappointment with a potential few more years tacked on top.
That might be enough for Matthews to open things up during a future conversation where these rumours turn into something more grounded in reality.
Also read on Hockey Patrol :
KHL standout Vitali Pinchuk is the Maple Leafs' best answer to losing Roy and Laughton
KHL standout Vitali Pinchuk is the Maple Leafs' best answer to losing Roy and Laughton
| POLL | ||
MARS 9|1061 ANSWERS The Matthews conversation is coming and his NMC means Toronto has almost no leverage Do the Maple Leafs have an Auston Matthews problem? | ||
| Yes | 832 | 78.4 % |
| No | 229 | 21.6 % |
| List of polls | ||