The Rules: I stuck to players who are under 30 years old and whose names have been in the rumor mill over the past few months (some longer than that.) I wrote about the Jason Robertson situation on Sunday**. Monday, I covered Brady Tkachuk and what’s happening in Ottawa**. Today we breakdown Auston Matthews and if he is a fit on Fun Street.
Auston Matthews
Auston Matthews, according to Hockey-refernce.com, was drafted first overall by Toronto in the 2016 draft. The 6-foot 3 Leaf’s captain has 428 goals and 352 assists for 780 career points in 689 games, a 1.14 points per game average. He has 59 points in 68 playoff games, won the Calder Trophy for Rookie of the Year in 2016-17, Hart Trophy in 2022, the Ted Lindsay Award, as well as the Rocket Richard trophy as the league’s top goal scorer three times (2021, 2022, 2024) as well as the Lester Pearson Award in. Matthews is signed through 2028 at $13.5 million per season. He is the Big Dog in Toronto.
Why He Might Be Available
Toronto is legendary for the enormous pressure their hockey team must endure, from fans, the media, everyone. Toronto hasn’t hoisted the Stanley Cup since 1967and last appeared in the Conference Finals since 2002. When the Leafs built the roster with Matthews, William Nylander, Jonathan Tavares, Mitch Marner, and Morgan Reilly, they were supposed to restore the Leafs to the long-awaited glory. That has yet to happen, and last season fell apart early. After Matthews got hurt and the Leafs missed the playoffs, Toronto ownership cleaned house. New general manager John Chayka will have the first pick overall pick in next month’s draft but has yet to reveal if Matthews fits into his future plan, as crazy as that may sound.
Matthews would immediately upgrade the Caps upgrade the top six, add a dangerous weapon to the powerplay, and give the Caps another “big rig” in the lineup. He wouldn’t have to be “The Man” in Washington with Ovi and Tom Wilson around. He knows Caps head coach Spencer Carbery from his time in Toronto, and Matthews grew up idolizing Alex Ovechkin. He would have the chance to help Ovi win one more Cup before he hangs them up.
What It Would Cost
The Leafs could ask for both of the Caps’ first rounders this June, plus a couple of future picks, a prospect like Andrew Cristall or Ilya Protas, and an NHLer like Dylan Strome or Connor McMichael. (Full disclosure: I’m guessing when I do these predictions. Don’t make any bets.) Matthews won’t come cheap, and the Capitals have the assets to pull it off.
Matthews is only 29 years old and still has some good years ahead, on hopes. Toronto isn’t going to give him away for nothing, if they want to trade him at all. Matthews would have to agree to wave his full no-trade clause and approve any trade. But it would be surprised is Toronto moves on from their superstar.
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