{"id":334080,"date":"2026-05-13T18:21:48","date_gmt":"2026-05-13T12:51:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/?p=334080"},"modified":"2026-05-13T18:21:49","modified_gmt":"2026-05-13T12:51:49","slug":"toronto-maple-leafs-and-auston-matthews","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/2026\/05\/13\/toronto-maple-leafs-and-auston-matthews\/","title":{"rendered":"Toronto Maple Leafs and Auston Matthews"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Toronto Maple Leafs<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

There may be\u00a0 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\u2019t think he can, then he’ll search for a brand new destination where he can.<\/p>\n

NHL Rumors: Toronto Maple Leafs Must Persuade Auston Matthews to Stay<\/p>\n

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I imagine they\u2019re going to fulfill with Auston Matthews next week (next couple of weeks) in Scottsdale. They\u2019re going to attempt to get on the identical page with respect to what the timeline is and all that. After which it\u2019s a matter of execution.<\/p>\n

And the entire stuff that Auston doesn\u2019t need to be in Toronto, sure, and this and that. I feel it\u2019s 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\u2019s all right, it\u2019s all accurate. I\u2019ve been saying it as well all week. I\u2019ve been wording it slightly bit in another way, so I feel that perhaps among the verbiage is being twisted.<\/p>\n

However the mindset continues to be the identical. The message behind the reporting is the very same, and it\u2019s fully accurate. Auston desires to win in Toronto, but when the Leafs don\u2019t show him that next yr and the yr after, they\u2019re going to be competitive, the hell is he going to remain there for?<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n

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?<\/p>\n

NHL Rumors: Toronto Maple Leafs, and the San Jose Sharks<\/p>\n

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?<\/p>\n

The Toronto Maple Leafs, just like the Edmonton Oilers, don\u2019t 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?<\/p>\n

Having the primary overall pick in 2026 is great. This isn\u2019t 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\u2019t the one thing that may move the needle for Auston Matthews.<\/p>\n

\u201cI reached out to each of their respective camps, Gavin McKenna\u2019s camp and Auston Matthews camp, the day of the lottery,\u201d Pagnotta said on Sirius XM NHL Network Radio. \u201cLike, right after the lottery, there was excitement on either side. And on Auston\u2019s side, it\u2019s still okay. That is great. That is exciting. But what else is there? Like, I want to see the remainder.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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 \u201cCore 4\u201d era.<\/p>\n

What Does the Near Future Hold for Auston Matthews and the Toronto Maple Leafs?<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Again, wanting to win in Toronto is great. But having confusion at once can also be good. Let\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

It’s an interesting time with all eyes on the Toronto Maple Leafs<\/a> yet again and the longer term of Auston Matthews with the franchise.<\/p>\n

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