Source: Matthews’ future still unclear despite Leafs’ lottery win
Austin Matthews stays unsure about his future with the Toronto Maple Leafs Despite the workforce’s latest NHL draft lottery win, an NHL supply tells ESPN.
Matthews, 28, has two extra seasons left on his contract with a wage cap hit of $13.25 million and a full no-movement clause. A supply confirmed a report by The Athletic earlier this week that the star middle is not sure if he’ll return to the Maple Leafs for the 2026-27 season or search a commerce to a Stanley Cup contender.
Matthews has but to satisfy with John Chayka, the new Toronto general manager who was introduced Mondaythough that assembly is predicted to occur within the subsequent few weeks. Matthews is ready to listen to in regards to the short-term and long-term imaginative and prescient of Chayka and Mats Sundin, the workforce’s new senior government adviser for hockey operations. That contains roster-planning but in addition how the brand new administration workforce plans to construct out its hockey operations employees.
Toronto was the surprising winner of the draft lottery on Tuesday, having solely an 8.5% probability of securing the primary general decide heading into the draw. While profitable the lottery and the possibility to doubtlessly draft Penn State University star winger Gavin McKenna does not harm the Leafs’ possibilities to retain Matthews, it did not materially change his mindset getting into the offseason.
There’s no timeline on Matthews’ choice relating to subsequent season. Some stories advised that Matthews would make a dedication by mid-July, however there is not any agency goal date.
The Maple Leafs missed the playoffs for the primary time in 10 years in a season following star winger Mitch Marner‘s departure to the Vegas Golden Knights. Matthews had 53 factors in 60 video games with 27 targets, the second straight season his level totals have fallen. His season was cut short by a knee injury on March 12 on a success from Anaheim‘s Radko Gudas.
“Everybody here wants to win. I love being the captain of this team. I think it’s an incredible honor to wake up every day and put on this jersey. That isn’t lost on me,” he stated in his exit interview.
But when Matthews was requested about his future with the Maple Leafs, he stated: “I can’t predict the future. Obviously, there’s steps that kind of have to take place. They’re going to hire new leadership in management and stuff like that. So I don’t really know.”
When requested if he’d “reject” speak that he would not need to be in Toronto for the rest of his contract, Matthews stated: “There’s always noise. Always chatter. I really don’t pay attention to all that.”
Matthews was drafted first general in 2016 by the Leafs. He has 428 targets and 352 assists in 689 profession video games however has made the second spherical of the playoffs solely twice, dropping to the Florida Panthers each occasions. Matthews is the all-time chief in targets scored in Toronto, having handed Sundin (420) this season.
