The Toronto Maple Leafs are facing the departure of forward Mitch Marner with the goal of seriously contending for the Stanley Cup. Last NHL season, they reached the second round of the playoffs, where they fell to the Florida Panthers. Now, a discouraging statement has been made about star center Auston Matthews.
Following Marner’s exit (he will continue his career with the Vegas Golden Knights) there was speculation that Toronto would make a big splash by pursuing Brad Marchand. However, that replacement never came, and the team is still looking to make a major move.
Matthews is at the center of attention heading into next season, as he remains one of the most consistent performers on a team that has experienced repeated postseason frustrations. In this context, a former Toronto player has sent a strong message about the future of the 27-year-old captain.
The unfortunate warning about Auston Matthews’ future
Current NHL insider and former Maple Leafs player Nick Kypreos issued a hard-to-ignore warning about Matthews’ future. “Is he keeping his options open? If next season doesn’t trend in the right direction for the captain and his team, will he want to stick around?” Kypreos wrote in the Toronto Star.
Auston Matthews #34 of the Toronto Maple Leafs warms up prior to action against the Edmonton Oilers in an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on March 23, 2024 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
What Kypreos suggests fits a scenario where Matthews’ choice to sign a shorter contract could indicate he’s already thinking about his next move. The columnist warns that if the Leafs fail to advance further in the coming seasons, Matthews’ long-term stay in Toronto might not be as certain as fans hope.
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NHL News: Auston Matthews’ Maple Leafs send a clear message about what happened with Mitch Marner in trade to Golden Knights
Matthews also faced criticism from fans for his underwhelming performance against the Panthers in the playoffs, where he recorded just one goal and three assists, a low output considering his importance to the Maple Leafs lineup. In this context, his performance will also need to match the franchise’s aspirations.
