Auston Matthews and Matvei Michkov in the same trade? That’s the kind of idea that stops you in your tracks, and Matt Larkin’s latest “piping-hot take” goes right there.
In Larkin’s scenario, the Toronto Maple Leafs miss the playoffs again, Matthews decides he’s ready to move on, and he gets dealt during 2027 NHL Draft week. The twist is the return: Michkov, who Larkin says still can’t get on the same page as Rick Tocchet despite his improved physique, becomes part of the package going the other way to Toronto.
Larkin laid out the thinking behind the wild setup this way: “The Leo Carlsson offer sheet showed that Flyers GM Danny Briere is willing to spend massive money on a superstar center, and Matthews would accelerate the team’s timeline significantly. Meanwhile, the Leafs, who began fostering a Russian contingent with Marchenko and Sergei Bobrovsky, would buy low on a high-ceilinged talent while netting some other useful draft-pick capital.”
It’s the kind of blockbuster that lives squarely in the hot-take lane. Matthews is one of the best goalscorers of all-time, and Michkov is the sort of player teams dream on as a future franchise star. That alone makes the idea outrageous, even if the NHL has certainly delivered its share of surprises lately.
The bigger reality, though, is that Toronto would only seriously consider moving Matthews if the relationship reaches the point where he won’t re-sign. He’s under contract through the 2027-28 season, and if the Maple Leafs aren’t competitive over the next couple of years, that’s when the conversation could get uncomfortable.
If Matthews did tell the Leafs he wouldn’t re-sign, Toronto would have no shortage of interested suitors. A player of his caliber would bring back a massive package, and there would be plenty of teams lining up to make a run.
But the Leafs aren’t moving him for anything short of a clear signal that he’s leaving. Even the hint that he might stay would likely keep him in Toronto.
The Flyers, despite the appeal of pairing Matthews with their own ambitions, don’t look like the most likely landing spot. They could certainly put together a strong offer if Michkov were included, but the belief here is that Philadelphia would be extremely reluctant to part with him. Unless Michkov’s play drops off badly over the next couple of seasons, he figures to remain one of the Flyers’ untouchables.
If Matthews ever did hit the market, other teams would be in the mix. Larkin points to a world where Arizona would be the landing spot, if there were a team there.
The Florida Panthers would be worth watching, though pulling it off would be difficult even down the road. The Washington Capitals could try to replace the best goalscorer of all-time with the next best thing offensively, the Vegas Golden Knights are always part of these conversations, and the Montreal Canadiens could still be hunting for a franchise-shifting swing.
For now, though, the simplest read is the most likely one: Matthews wants to stay with the Maple Leafs, and the odds of seeing him dealt remain slim.
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