- Auston Matthews was noncommittal about his long-term future with the Maple Leafs at Thursday’s end-of-season press conference
- The captain said management needs to hire new leadership before he can assess what comes next
- Read below for what Matthews said about the Gudas hit, his Olympic gold, and whether he still believes in this core
Auston Matthews spoke publicly for the first time since his season-ending knee injury on Thursday, and his message about the future was anything but definitive.
“I can’t predict the future,” Matthews told reporters at the team’s year-end media availability, per TSN. “They have to hire new leadership at management and stuff like that. So, I don’t really know.”
Toronto fired general manager Brad Treliving last month and is still searching for a new head of hockey operations. Until that hire is made, Matthews can’t evaluate the direction of a franchise that just missed the playoffs for the first time since drafting him first overall in 2016.
Still, Matthews pushed back on the idea that he wants out. “I love being the captain of this team,” he said. “I believe in the guys in the room and the people we have here. We’re all hopeful this is kind of a one-off.”
Matthews remains under contract through 2027-28 at a $13.25 million cap hit. He can’t sign an extension until July 1, 2027, so the Leafs have time to get their front office in order. Whether that’s enough to keep him long-term depends on who they bring in and what the plan looks like.
The 28-year-old’s season ended in March after a vicious knee-on-knee hit from Anaheim’s Radko Gudas that left him needing MCL surgery. He finished with 27 goals and 53 points in 60 games before the injury.
“I think you probably know how I feel about the hit,” Matthews said. “Up until a couple days ago I was standing on crutches.” He proved he’s still an elite player at the Olympics in February, captaining Team USA to gold with seven points in six games.
Head coach Craig Berube said Thursday he expects to return next season and backed the roster’s core talent. “We have to make some moves to bring in maybe some different players or different people,” Berube said. “But there’s a good core here.”
With 428 goals and 780 points in 689 career games, Matthews is the most productive player in franchise history. Whether he finishes his career in Toronto is now the biggest question hanging over the Leafs’ offseason.
