The idea of an Auston Matthews trade is starting to enter the conversation
Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
According to Nick Kypreos, the Maple Leafs should maybe think about a potential Auston Matthews trade, especially if the season continues down this path.
There's a lot of discussion recently about what's going on with Auston Matthews and why he isn't the dominant scorer of years past, showing some pretty average production this season, and not exactly taking a lot of accountability.
His numbers have slipped, he's under constant pressure to pick them team up, and there's even a serious disconnect between himself and head coach Craig Berube.
It's dire times in Toronto, and there could be serious changes on the horizon, and one analyst believes those changes could involve the captain.
Toronto to trade Auston Matthews? Not as crazy as you'd think
Sportsnet's Nick Kypreos was speaking on The Real Kyper and Bourne Show and brought up the potential of an Austo Matthews deal.
While it seems crazy to deal away a former 60+ goal scorer and the captain of your team, it's clear that the team is at an impasse right now and they need to make a decision:
The no-movement clause comes into play so you have to do this together, you have to go up to Auston and be like 'This has been a rough year and a half, almost two years,' [when you factor in last year]. Then the injury and trip to Germany and all that.
He may be ready to go to the Maple Leafs and say 'Hey, it's time for a change.'
I don't think this is an in-season decision though. This is a summer devision, and I also don't believe that this is Auston for the rest of his career. I don't think other teams are looking at it like 'This is the Auston Matthews I'm trading for,' they know what he can be.
He may be ready to go to the Maple Leafs and say 'Hey, it's time for a change.'
I don't think this is an in-season decision though. This is a summer devision, and I also don't believe that this is Auston for the rest of his career. I don't think other teams are looking at it like 'This is the Auston Matthews I'm trading for,' they know what he can be.
It would be a stunning bit of business for the Maple Leafs to turn away from their captain, but they also have to be wary of his upcoming contract talks. If we aren't getting a dominant Matthews, then is it worth spending the $14+ million to keep him around?
So where would Matthews even go?
If the Maple Leafs were to trade Matthews, it now becomes an issue of where can he go, and who can even afford him?
Kypreos had a hunch that the Los Angeles Kings could be a team that would be able to pursue Matthews and pay the price as well:
Don't hold me to this, but Auston Matthews to the LA Kings. That's the move. They have Kopitar leaving, they need someone.
If you can't get four pieces for him, you should get at least three quality pieces. You need a center, I don't know if they give up Byfield, and I would love to get a defenseman back for sure.
If you can't get four pieces for him, you should get at least three quality pieces. You need a center, I don't know if they give up Byfield, and I would love to get a defenseman back for sure.
So knowing Kypreos' desires, and what Toronto needs back in a package involving Matthews, here's what a potential deal may look like:
To Los Angeles:
(C) Auston Matthews
To Toronto:
(C) Quinton Byfield
(D) Brandt Clarke
(C) Alex Turcotte
2026 First-Round Pick
(D) Brandt Clarke
(C) Alex Turcotte
2026 First-Round Pick
This trade gives Toronto a new #1 center in Byfield, who is still incredibly young and hasn't scratched the surface of his potential yet. The team also gets Morgan Rielly's replacement in Brandt Clarke; a 22-year old towering defenseman with silky smooth hands.
They also get gritty forward Alex Turcotte, who would be an offensive and defensive improvement over Max Domi, and is still only 24 years old. The goal here is to get younger, and the team certainly does.
It's not a perfect trade by any stretch, and a lot of things can change between now and summer. But it's not a bad package, especially knowing that they need to pay Matthews a lot of money soon.
With his contract ending the same time as Connor McDavid's, maybe it's time to move Auston Matthews out and bring in some new faces. Just in time to sign Connor McDavid on July 1, 2028.
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 24|1731 ANSWERS The idea of an Auston Matthews trade is starting to enter the conversation Do you think Toronto should trade Auston Matthews? | ||
| Yes | 1084 | 62.6 % |
| No | 647 | 37.4 % |
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