Well-connected Insider says Auston Matthews has no plans of signing anywhere but Toronto

Now, we're seeing another prominent American-born player in Matthew Tkachuk looking to put Calgary in his rearview mirror, and there's a lot of speculation over whether he's interested in playing for ANY Canadian team. There are a lot of people, including some of the who's who of hockey, who are suggesting that Tkachuk is looking for the quickest exit to be able to play in the States.

Beyond Tkachuk, there is also a significant amount of chatter surrounding Auston Matthews, as there has been since he signed his 5-year deal with the Leafs back in February of 2019 - a deal that walks him straight to free agency in 2024-25.

Sportsnet's Eric Francis stirred the pot on Wednesday, suggesting that Matthews is counting down the days until he can sign with a team of his choosing back home in the US, rather than to re-up with the Leafs, but there is at least one very well-connected NHL Insider who isn't convinced that Matthews is going anywhere.

During an appearance on Sportsnet's Tim & Friends, DFO's Frank Seravalli spoke on the Auston Matthews free agency debacle, stating that he doesn't believe that Matthews has any plans of signing anywhere but Toronto.

Call me crazy, but I think there is a lot of evidence to support Seravalli's claims. Certainly much more than there is to support the claims of Eric Francis. Matthews is the face of the franchise in the hockey mecca. He is using his spotlight in Toronto to lure all sorts of sponsors in and, beyond all that, he's a key piece on a contending team who believe that their time is very close.

Most players don't get many chances to win a Stanley Cup. But to have the opportunity to win a Stanley Cup and to do it with the team that drafted you and in a city like Toronto, who is absolutely STARVED for a championship - that would bring Matthews instant icon status, if he doesn't already have that. I don't think he's going anywhere.