Maple Leafs GM John Chayka offered a clear update on Auston Matthews on Thursday: the captain is healthy, and contract talk can wait.
In an exclusive Q&A with NHL.com, Chayka spoke with Mike Zeisberger about a range of topics around the Toronto Maple Leafs, his time in Arizona, Gavin McKenna, and more. But the biggest takeaway centered on Matthews, both his condition and where things stand on his next deal.
At Toronto’s first on-ice practice session on Thursday, Chayka said Matthews was essentially “100 percent ready to go physically,” with no major concerns as he looks to rebound from two down seasons.
The bigger wrinkle is what comes next. Chayka made it clear to Zeisberger that extension talks are not really active right now, with the organization staying focused on 2026-27 and what he described as the business of winning.
“We have, what, 10 months for that? And a lot can happen in 10 months (laughs).
Let's get through our first regular-season game. Now, having said that, we have a great relationship with Auston.
We have a great relationship with Judd (Moldaver), his representative.
I know (Auston's) family a bit from being around Arizona, so there's a lot of shared interest. Right now, let's deal with the business of winning. When it's time for business, we'll deal with it.”
That doesn’t mean Toronto has no shot at keeping its captain. Chayka’s answer leaves the door open. But the path ahead is not simple.
The Maple Leafs have two seasons to build enough momentum to convince Matthews that the team is headed in the right direction. That challenge gets tougher with so many new faces needing time to settle in and build chemistry.
And it’s not enough for Toronto just to be decent. Matthews has to believe he’s committing to a team that is committed to winning, with a real plan beyond 2027-28.
There’s also the roster reality waiting down the line. With 10 contracts at minimum expiring at that point, Matthews would be looking at a stripped-down group unless Toronto can develop enough help in the bottom six and then use its extra cap space to add impact players.
For now, though, the headline is simple: Matthews is ready physically, and any contract decision is being pushed down the road. In a short window that can disappear fast, the Maple Leafs are betting that the next 10 months will tell the story.
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