- Pierre LeBrun says all signs point to Auston Matthews back with the Leafs next season
- The draft lottery win, the John Chayka hire, and Mats Sundin’s return eased the captain’s doubts
- Read below for what is still keeping Matthews from a full commitment
Auston Matthews looks like he is staying in Toronto.
Pierre LeBrun reported Wednesday that all signs point to Matthews suiting up for the Maple Leafs next season. Unless something dramatic happens over the next few weeks, the captain is coming back.
His future had been a live question all spring. Chris Johnston laid out the stakes a month ago:
Toronto gave everyone reason to wonder. The Leafs missed the playoffs, finished last in the Atlantic, and tore up hockey operations. Brad Treliving lost the GM chair and Craig Berube got fired behind the bench.
LeBrun said talks between Matthews’ agent Judd Moldaver and new general manager John Chayka have been cordial, with a growing comfort over the direction. Moldaver has not made it official, but that is where it is trending.
A few moves helped. Toronto won the draft lottery and the right to take Gavin McKenna first overall, hired Chayka to run the front office, and brought Mats Sundin back into the building.
Several teams were circling. The Kings, Ducks, and Utah Mammoth all kept tabs on the captain, hoping the collapse might pry him loose.
Matthews is coming off the roughest season of his career. The 27 goals and 53 points came in an injury-wrecked year that ended with knee surgery.
He spoke about his uncertain future when the Leafs cleaned out their lockers. Take a look at the TSN breakdown:
Nothing is stamped at 100 percent yet. Matthews wants to see how the rest of Chayka’s offseason plays out before locking in, but the captain looks like a Leaf again next fall.
