Maple Leafs' Offseason Overhaul Sparks Frenzy as Auston Matthews Trade Talks Heat Up
Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
The Toronto Maple Leafs' offseason overhaul sparked a frenzy as trade talks involving Auston Matthews are heating up.
Following yet another disappointing playoff elimination for the Toronto Maple Leafs by the Florida Panthers in the Division Finals, all changes must be considered by the Leafs' management.
Many important players in Toronto will be looking for a new contract this summer, like Matthew Knies, Mitch Marner, and John Tavares.
While Brad Treliving will remain as GM in Toronto, his focus will likely be on them, another big question will need to be raised in the Leafs' offices: what to do with Auston Matthews?
According to Frank Seravalli, the team must talk about that option, even if the insider believes there's a 99.9% chance of seeing Matthews back in Toronto next year.
He added that due to his playoff struggles and injuries, the Leafs could try to move him, even if it's unlikely to happen:
"My guess is there's probably a 99.9% chance that Auston Matthews is back with the Maple Leafs next year.
But if we're going to question and talk about Marner, because he's a pending UFA and likely on his way out the door, then the playoff failures obviously extend to Matthews as well. This is a guy whose goals per game in the regular season drop by nearly half in the postseason. He's scored in 23 of the 68 playoff games he's played.
But it's not just that. If we're really turning over every stone and talking about everything, then let's also talk about his injuries. Let's talk about whether this really is a back injury, which everyone seems to suspect. How often do those injuries actually get better?
And again, I think it's very unlikely anything happens there. But inside that front office, behind those walls, those are exactly the kinds of conversations they should be having. If we're going to blow this up-how deep are we planning the dynamite?"
But if we're going to question and talk about Marner, because he's a pending UFA and likely on his way out the door, then the playoff failures obviously extend to Matthews as well. This is a guy whose goals per game in the regular season drop by nearly half in the postseason. He's scored in 23 of the 68 playoff games he's played.
But it's not just that. If we're really turning over every stone and talking about everything, then let's also talk about his injuries. Let's talk about whether this really is a back injury, which everyone seems to suspect. How often do those injuries actually get better?
And again, I think it's very unlikely anything happens there. But inside that front office, behind those walls, those are exactly the kinds of conversations they should be having. If we're going to blow this up-how deep are we planning the dynamite?"
Listen to his full intervention here:
If the Leafs were to trade Matthews, it would have to be for a massive return, in a deal that could surely send shockwaves across the entire NHL.
| POLL | ||
MAI 23 | 507 ANSWERS Maple Leafs' Offseason Overhaul Sparks Frenzy as Auston Matthews Trade Talks Heat Up Do you think the Toronto Maple Leafs would make a mistake by trading Auston Matthews? | ||
| Yes | 181 | 35.7 % |
| No | 326 | 64.3 % |
| List of polls | ||
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