The post Maple Leafs Writer Suggests That Auston Matthews Will Be Traded Out West appeared first on NHL Trade Talk.
Auston Matthews’ season has been over for a couple of weeks now, and while he’s been out of sight since, he certainly hasn’t been out of mind.
The future of the Toronto Maple Leafs captain has drawn significant attention of late, especially after the fallout from the knee-on-knee hit by Radko Gudas that led to his injury. Reports have suggested Matthews will soon have to start weighing his options, with one indicating it’s a 50-50 chance whether he stays or goes.
Nothing is concrete yet and won’t be until the offseason kicks into gear. However, one Maple Leafs writer is already hearing that Matthews could be headed west, to either Anaheim, Los Angeles, or Utah.
Howard Berger wrote:
The 28-year-old Matthews just finished the second year of the four-year, $53 million extension he signed with the Maple Leafs in 2023, eligible to sign a new deal to stay in Toronto starting July 1, 2027. He put up a career-low 53 points (27 goals, 26 assists) in 60 games played this season.
We won’t know for certain what Matthews has decided until the 2025-26 season is over. That being said, many around the hockey world believe he could be on the move this summer, so what Berger is hearing isn’t necessarily all that far-fetched.
Auston Matthews Maple Leafs Kings
Anaheim, Los Angeles, and Utah make sense for a player who grew up in Scottsdale, Arizona—not only because of his ties out west, but also because all three have the cap space and assets to put together compelling trade offers.
Those three teams will undoubtedly be ones to keep an eye on should Matthews become available, though we also can’t forget about the young, up-and-coming San Jose Sharks and the always aggressive Vegas Golden Knights—reunion with Mitch Marner?
Ultimately, it will all come down to whether Keith Pelley and the Maple Leafs can put forth a plan that makes Matthews happy enough to stay in Toronto. How the draft lottery plays out in early May could also factor into that decision, so we might not get official word on the superstar center’s future for some time.
Next: Insider Sees Pacific Team as Landing Spot for Morgan Rielly or Darnell Nurse
The post Maple Leafs Writer Suggests That Auston Matthews Will Be Traded Out West appeared first on NHL Trade Talk.
Continue reading...
Auston Matthews’ season has been over for a couple of weeks now, and while he’s been out of sight since, he certainly hasn’t been out of mind.
The future of the Toronto Maple Leafs captain has drawn significant attention of late, especially after the fallout from the knee-on-knee hit by Radko Gudas that led to his injury. Reports have suggested Matthews will soon have to start weighing his options, with one indicating it’s a 50-50 chance whether he stays or goes.
Nothing is concrete yet and won’t be until the offseason kicks into gear. However, one Maple Leafs writer is already hearing that Matthews could be headed west, to either Anaheim, Los Angeles, or Utah.
Howard Berger wrote:
The 28-year-old Matthews just finished the second year of the four-year, $53 million extension he signed with the Maple Leafs in 2023, eligible to sign a new deal to stay in Toronto starting July 1, 2027. He put up a career-low 53 points (27 goals, 26 assists) in 60 games played this season.
Auston Matthews Trade?
We won’t know for certain what Matthews has decided until the 2025-26 season is over. That being said, many around the hockey world believe he could be on the move this summer, so what Berger is hearing isn’t necessarily all that far-fetched.
Auston Matthews Maple Leafs Kings
Anaheim, Los Angeles, and Utah make sense for a player who grew up in Scottsdale, Arizona—not only because of his ties out west, but also because all three have the cap space and assets to put together compelling trade offers.
Those three teams will undoubtedly be ones to keep an eye on should Matthews become available, though we also can’t forget about the young, up-and-coming San Jose Sharks and the always aggressive Vegas Golden Knights—reunion with Mitch Marner?
Ultimately, it will all come down to whether Keith Pelley and the Maple Leafs can put forth a plan that makes Matthews happy enough to stay in Toronto. How the draft lottery plays out in early May could also factor into that decision, so we might not get official word on the superstar center’s future for some time.
Next: Insider Sees Pacific Team as Landing Spot for Morgan Rielly or Darnell Nurse
The post Maple Leafs Writer Suggests That Auston Matthews Will Be Traded Out West appeared first on NHL Trade Talk.
Continue reading...