There are quite a lot of questions surrounding what the Toronto Maple Leafs will probably be doing on the General Manager’s position, in addition to whether or not there will probably be a President of Hockey Operations. It seems more just like the latter with regards to the Maple Leafs Hockey Operations department. Nevertheless, an even bigger cloud looms: the long run of Auston Matthews.
NHL Rumors: Auston Matthews Will Not Rush into Any Decision About His Future
Right away the long run for Auston Matthews is getting healthy after having surgery on a Grade 3 ACL tear he suffered from a knee on knee hit from Anaheim Geese defenseman Radko Gudas. But Matthews and the Maple Leafs need to come to a decision how he aspects into the long run and the “retool” that will probably be happening in Toronto.
The brand new hockey management will attempt to persuade Matthews that things are still heading in the right direction and it is a one-year blip. Remember, in response to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet in the summertime of 2021 that they had discussions with Matthews about his future with the Maple Leafs. That was before he signed his four-year deal in August 2023.
Well, that deal has two-years left and the Toronto Maple Leafs went from the most effective teams to one in all the worst teams overnight. It’s an identical path the Vancouver Canucks went on heading into this season. Vancouver went to the second round of the playoffs in 2024 after which missed the playoffs the next season after which did every little thing of their power to persuade defenseman Quinn Hughes to remain.
Nevertheless, the Canucks had his mind made up long before the 2025 offseason. Even management a 12 months out he wasn’t going to sign long-term in Vancouver. The Canucks traded him to the Minnesota Wild for Zeev Buium, Marco Rossi, Liam Ohgren, and a 2026 first-round pick. Vancouver knew a rebuild was coming but they took one asset and got 4 to hopefully set a foundation moving forward.
The Toronto Maple Leafs Road Back Will Be Long
Something similar could play out in Toronto. Players understand they’ve more control now. If teams feel Matthews may also help for not less than two playoff runs they are going to do it. If Toronto desires to work out the issues throughout the organization perhaps their isn’t any convincing captain Auston Matthews the Maple Leafs will actually be back.
We all know William Nylander doesn’t wish to be around for a rebuild. But given what just happened with Quinn Hughes it is a scenario that would occur again.
“My theory on this. That is my theory. It’s purely my theory,” Elliotte Friedman said on 32 Thoughts Podcast on Friday. “Based on what I heard this week is, they’re going to inform him we’re back heading in the right direction next 12 months, or attempting to be and are available back at the beginning of the 12 months, and let’s see the way it goes.
,Like, I feel, the Quinn Hughes thing, every player in that league, every team in that league, saw how the Quinn Hughes thing played out this 12 months. And that you just start the 12 months, you see the way it goes, after which if it goes off the rails, you adjust as needed. We’ll see. I may very well be flawed about that. But that’s my theory, immediately, that’s my theory.”
Not a foul theory considering what just played out in Vancouver. Plus, Toronto must restock its farm system and draft picks. As well as moving a player like Nylander or Matthews gives the team the flexibility to usher in talent that will probably be the following wave of Maple Leafs much like what happened in 2014.
NHL Rumors: The Toronto Maple Leafs Fallout Continues
So there may be loads at stake with not only the hire in Toronto, but the long run of captain Auston Matthews with the Maple Leafs moving forward. There’s a superb likelihood he doesn’t finish his profession with the club.
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