Auston Matthews Has to Be Sold on Staying in Toronto
Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet joined Gord Stellick and Scott Laughlin on Sirius XM NHL Network Radio on Wednesday morning and was asked about Auston Matthews future with the Toronto Maple Leafs and have things changed with the organization getting the first overall pick in 2026.
NHLRumors.com Transcriptions
What Does the Near Future Hold for Auston Matthews and the Toronto Maple Leafs?
Gord Stellick: “But the other one it came up about Auston Matthews was he knows the family well. Then the next day, we get reports that Auston, the end this year, there’s not a number one overall pick like Auston Matthews is maybe willing to look at the Quinn Hughes group leaving. I don’t know how this would change or not change things, but I mean that that he doesn’t have to share exactly what’s going on, but that’s a much more significant piece of news. Where do you think his head is at? How do you think this is going to play out here?”
Elliotte Friedman: “Gordy, my position on Matthews, it remains unchanged, and that is when they sit down with him, they are going to have to convince them, not only that they have a plan, but they can execute that plan. I think if, even if he likes the plan, if he can’t convince them that they can execute it, then, or, sorry, if they can’t convince him that they can execute it, he may ask out. But I think that’s to be determined.
And I think he’s got to be told, this is what we want to do, and this is how we’re actually going to be able to execute what we want to do. And if he is convinced they can do that, then I think he’s going to give them time. If they can’t convince them they’re going to do that, then they’re going to have a problem.”
Dave Pagnotta of The Fourth Period was on TSN Radio in Montreal on Tuesday and was asked about the Toronto Maple Leafs and the new management. He mentioned that they have an 8-10 week window to show William Nylander and Auston Matthews how things will be turned around quickly or changes could be coming.
NHLRumors.com Transcriptions
Dave Pagnotta of the Fourth Period on TSN Radio in Montreal: “I want to see what they do in short order, because it’s going to have to be short order for this club. Like they have an eight to 10 week window to retool this roster in a manner that is acceptable to their captain, Auston Matthews, and their high flying winner in William Nylander, who has a lot of term. Auston doesn’t.
He’s got two years left, and if by July 15, Auston and his agent, and they sit down and they look at all the changes the Leafs have made, and they go, ‘Well, you promised us that you were going to do X, Y and Z, and you only accomplished X. We’re not confident that you’re going to get to where you want to be, where we want to be for next season, you may have to look at trading me.’
But that’s 10 weeks from now, type of scenario. I think Auston, when he has this conversation with the new GM, will be blunt, because I think his agent already has been and just say, look, I want to win here. I love playing in Toronto. I want to be part of this. But if we’re not showing progress, what’s the point in me being here for two years and then leaving?”
NHLRumors.com Note: The Toronto Maple Leafs have big decisions ahead now they have the number one overall pick. However, GM John Chayka and Senior Executive Advisor of Hockey Operations Mats Sundin have work to do to convince the two big stars they can make this team back into a contender. The issue is the Maple Leafs don’t have a lot of prospects or draft picks coming.
Auston Matthews On His Future with the Toronto Maple Leafs
Is the best course of action trading these players and starting over? Will ownership accept that? But retooling can be done, but the players have to be convinced of it because from the start the players ran the show in Toronto not management.
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