The Toronto Maple Leafs have work to do with the brand new administration coming in, led by General Manager John Chayka and Senior Executive Advisor of Hockey Operations Mats Sundin.
First off, the Maple Leafs need to make a decision whether it is a partnership, a one-man show, a mentorship for Sundin to take over in a while, or a way for Chayka to be protected, as Sundin will do all of the media and so forth. After that, the roster work begins, starting with Auston Matthews.
There may be popular narrative going around that Matthews wants out. To the extent that’s accurate; nonetheless, as Dave Pagnotta of the Fourth Period stated on Sirius XM NHL Network Radio on Saturday May ninth edition of the TFP Hotstove with Dennis Bernstein and Ryan Paton, Matthews desires to win in Toronto, but when he doesn’t think he can, then he’ll search for a brand new destination where he can.
NHL Rumors: Toronto Maple Leafs Must Persuade Auston Matthews to Stay
I imagine they’re going to fulfill with Auston Matthews next week (next couple of weeks) in Scottsdale. They’re going to attempt to get on the identical page with respect to what the timeline is and all that. After which it’s a matter of execution.
And the entire stuff that Auston doesn’t need to be in Toronto, sure, and this and that. I feel it’s being twisted slightly bit. All of these things that CJ reported this week, Chris Johnson reported week, after which I feel Elliotte did something about it to Friedman, that’s all right, it’s all accurate. I’ve been saying it as well all week. I’ve been wording it slightly bit in another way, so I feel that perhaps among the verbiage is being twisted.
However the mindset continues to be the identical. The message behind the reporting is the very same, and it’s fully accurate. Auston desires to win in Toronto, but when the Leafs don’t show him that next yr and the yr after, they’re going to be competitive, the hell is he going to remain there for?
Matthews has been the subject of conversation because he has two years left on a four-year deal he signed in August of 2023, with a cap hit of $13.25 million. He just saw how management traded Mitch Marner to the Vegas Golden Knights and couldn’t replace that production. The Maple Leafs used to have a top five; now they’ve a top three. So there’s work that should be done on the roster.
As Chayka stated in the course of the press conference, there’s a spot between where they’re and who they need to grow to be. How sizable that gap is stays to be seen. How distant are they from the team that lost in Game 7 of Round 2 of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs to the Florida Panthers, who would go on to win the Stanley Cup for a second straight yr?
NHL Rumors: Toronto Maple Leafs, and the San Jose Sharks
Similar situation with the Edmonton Oilers. The Maple Leafs have to redo the defense. Chayka talked a couple of puck-moving defenseman. They need a legit third-line center. Find depth scoring after moving out Bobby McMann. Remake the underside six, potentially each the third and fourth lines. Is Morgan Rielly staying? What’s the package in the event that they trade him away?
The Toronto Maple Leafs, just like the Edmonton Oilers, don’t have the draft picks or assets to make any significant moves without trading a rostered player. And if that happens, are they heading toward contending or rebuilding?
Having the primary overall pick in 2026 is great. This isn’t an overcomplicated situation, despite what some may say; you’re taking Gavin McKenna. Having a play-making winger on the highest line helps Matthews and Matthew Knies. But as Pagnotta noted, each are excited to play alongside one another, but that isn’t the one thing that may move the needle for Auston Matthews.
“I reached out to each of their respective camps, Gavin McKenna’s camp and Auston Matthews camp, the day of the lottery,” Pagnotta said on Sirius XM NHL Network Radio. “Like, right after the lottery, there was excitement on either side. And on Auston’s side, it’s still okay. That is great. That is exciting. But what else is there? Like, I want to see the remainder.”
Adding a top-six calibre player on an entry-level contract helps the Maple Leafs cap-wise. But free agency is a dud this yr, so it’s going to be tough to seek out the appropriate players. Looks as if Craig Berube may very well be sticking around for the season after management met with him over the weekend.
But there’s a timeline: mid-July for Auston Matthews. We all know the Draft is at the top of June and Free Agency on July 1st. He desires to see motion. Though realistically, the timeline must be shorter, and management has to place its foot down and eventually dictate terms. Don’t let the players keep running the organization because it has been within the “Core 4” era.
What Does the Near Future Hold for Auston Matthews and the Toronto Maple Leafs?
Now that may very well be an arbitrary timeline, as that’s when movement normally happens within the NHL, after which players make their determination. Nonetheless, if Auston Matthews has made up his mind, like Quinn Hughes in Vancouver and Matthew Tkachuk in Calgary, and irrespective of what the team does, he wants out, then the organization must know that now.
Again, wanting to win in Toronto is great. But having confusion at once can also be good. Let’s be honest, when you were a player on the Maple Leafs, you’ll have questions on the direction of the club after the 2 press conferences that Keith Pelley spoke at.
It’s an interesting time with all eyes on the Toronto Maple Leafs yet again and the longer term of Auston Matthews with the franchise.
We needed to restart our X account. Please follow @MyNHLRumorsX
Have you ever subscribed to our YouTube channel? Rumor roundups and hot topics from across the league. We’re also posting some stuff on Instagram.
Should you love our reporting, select NHLrumors.com as a preferred source on Google.