Report Suggests Maple Leafs May Explore Franchise-Altering Trade Involving Auston Matthews
Photo credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
After another disappointing exit from the playoffs, the Maple Leafs are expected to make significant changes, one of which may involve an Auston Matthews trade.
Following another embarrassing playoff exit, Leafs President Brendan Shanahan is expected to be on the outs, while the future of Leafs GM Brad Treliving has also come into question.
While the initial thought was that three-quarters of the Core 4 are expected to return for next season, one NHL Insider has suggested that we may yet see someone else move.
In a recent article for Daily Faceoff, Frank Seravalli noted that the Leafs, could potentially look to deal Auston Matthews.
"It's admittedly very unlikely that Toronto would move on from Matthews - and his no-movement clause would limit their control," wrote Seravalli. "But how many questions or thought exercises should be totally off the table for this Toronto team?"
As noted by Seravalli, it is ridiculously unlikely that the Leafs would look to trade their captain, and would be one of the most shocking and franchise defining moments in NHL history.
Matthews admitted himself on Tuesday that the season was tough due to a nagging injury that flared up in training camp -- which Seravalli noted was a back issue -- but trading your captain after one season under a new coach in Craig Berube seems like the most outrageous move the team could make just to make changes.
While it doesn't seem at all plausible, Seravalli seems to view the idea as a small possibility.
| POLL | ||
MAI 21 | 10325 ANSWERS Report Suggests Maple Leafs May Explore Franchise-Altering Trade Involving Auston Matthews Do you think the Leafs will ever trade Auston Matthews? | ||
| Yes, at some point | 5124 | 49.6 % |
| No, he'll retire as a Leaf | 2068 | 20 % |
| No, he'll leave via free agency one day | 3133 | 30.3 % |
| List of polls | ||
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