The Toronto Maple Leafs have already made several significant shifts in leadership once it became clear that they would not make the Stanley Cup Playoffs in their recently-completed 2025-26 season.
They dismissed general manager Brad Treliving on March 30, and later announced former Arizona Coyotes GM John Chayka as his successor, while franchise icon and former captain Mats Sundin joined the club in an executive role. Chayka’s first major decision with the Maple Leafs was to dismiss head coach Craig Berube, who just completed his second year behind the bench.
And right now, there is plenty of speculation on what the future of captain Auston Matthews could hold.
NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman Reveals The Latest Between Auston Matthews And The Toronto Maple Leafs
While doing a live interview on NHL Network, Insider Elliotte Friedman offered the latest on the ongoing situation between new Maple Leafs GM John Chayka and Auston Matthews, who are allegedly going to be meeting with one another to discuss the future.
“I think one of the reasons it hasn’t happened yet is that there’s some degree of scheduling,” Friedman said. “It’s the offseason, Matthews has things he needs to do, and the Maple Leafs have things they need to do. I think the number one thing is that Auston Matthews wants to win in Toronto. I do, I don’t think that’s ever changed. From the moment he got here, it’s been about ‘How long is he gonna stay? How long is he gonna stay?’”
“He’s signed contracts that could tie him to Toronto for up to 12 years. At the end of the day, these speak more than words, and that says something to me. I think what’s important to Matthews is not only to hear the plan, but be explained do of how they could do the plan. Not just what they’re going to do, but how they’re going to accomplish doing it. And what the timeline is going to be.”
Friedman concluded by saying he would be surprised if Matthews wasn’t a member of the Maple Leafs next season.
“But I think at the base, he wants to be in Toronto and I would be surprised if he wasn’t in Toronto next year,” he said. “I would say that, but I think it’s incumbent on Chayka and Sundin to explain to Matthews not only what they’re going to do, but how they’re going to accomplish it.”
Auston Matthews Is Signed Through 2028
The Maple Leafs selected Matthews with the first overall pick in the 2016 NHL Draft, and he instantly became one of the top goal scorers in the NHL. Only two seasons removed from a whopping 69 goals, Matthews inherited the captaincy from John Tavares, who willingly ceded the leadership position to him prior to the start of the 2024-25 campaign.
Matthews, who is signed through 2028 with a salary cap hit of $13.25 million, has struggled with injuries in the last two seasons and also seen his offensive prowess drop a bit.
This past season, he was limited to 60 games, and scored 27 goals with 26 assists.
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