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It's logical for people to wonder whether the Toronto Maple Leafs would trade Auston Matthews.
The Leafs are coming off a nightmare season, and Matthews has two years left on his contract. If they wanted to extract immense value out of a deal, now would be the time to do it.
The reality of the musings out there, though, is that they aren't necessarily rumors based in factual pursuits by the Maple Leafs. It's more of speculation than anything else.
A new report helps point to the fact that Matthews doesn't intend or want to go anywhere else.
TSN's Darren Dreger shared in a recent podcast episode that both Matthews and William Nylander are providing input on what they think the Maple Leafs need to add going forward.
“What I was told by people I trust there, is that both of those guys, Nylander and Matthews, told both management and coaching that look, we believe in this team, but we think we have to add some players,” Dreger said. "We need a couple of dogs up front with some bite, who can eliminate the softness we have in certain areas up front, and we need two mobile defensemen.”
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Is that something Matthews would do if he preferred out? His exit interview would've been a logical time to request a trade if that's what he wanted to do.
Given there have been no reports of such a move, it really does seem like Matthews is interested in proving Toronto's roster going forward. And that makes sense, because all indications are he wants to stay with the Maple Leafs, keep wearing the captain's 'C', and be part of the solution.
It was a rough season that no one saw coming in 2025-26. Matthews seems intent on turning things around while wearing the same uniform in 2026-27.
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