Auston Matthews Isn’t Going Anywhere - Even As the Maple Leafs Struggle
The Toronto Maple Leafs are wobbling. The kind of wobble that makes fans nervous and front offices restless. But through all the noise, one thing has become clear: Auston Matthews isn’t going anywhere.
Even with the Leafs slipping in the standings and facing the very real possibility of missing the playoffs, Matthews is staying the course. No drama.
No second thoughts. Just a franchise cornerstone doubling down on his commitment - even as the foundation around him looks shaky.
A Slump Can Test Loyalty - Matthews Hasn’t Flinched
Let’s be real: when a team starts spiraling, it’s natural to wonder who’s sticking around for the rebuild - or the reset, or whatever you want to call it. And in Toronto, where playoff disappointments have become an annual tradition, the pressure on their biggest star could easily lead to questions about his future.
But according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, that question has already been asked - and answered.
On the latest Saturday Headlines, Friedman reported that the Leafs recently met with Matthews’ representatives for what amounted to a midseason gut check. The team wanted to know, plainly: “Has anything changed? Are you still committed to being here beyond this season?”
The response was just as straightforward: “Nothing has changed.”
That’s a big deal. Because when your season’s slipping away and the trade deadline is looming, clarity from your franchise player matters. A lot.
Toronto’s Deadline Plans Don’t Include Matthews
With the March 6 trade deadline approaching, the Leafs are starting to work the phones. They’re reportedly testing the waters, seeing what value they might get for pending free agents or players who no longer fit the long-term plan. That’s what teams on the playoff bubble - or outside of it - tend to do.
But Matthews? He’s not part of those conversations. Not even close.
If there were even a hint that he was reconsidering his future in Toronto, this front office would be forced to explore the unthinkable - gauging the market on one of the NHL’s elite talents. Instead, they’ve got confirmation that their captain is still locked in. That changes everything.
It means the Leafs can approach this deadline with a little more direction. They’re not tearing it all down. They’re retooling around a superstar who still believes in the vision - even if the present is murky.
A Calming Presence Amid the Chaos
Matthews signed his long-term extension with Toronto a few years back, and he’s never wavered. That kind of stability is rare - especially in a market as intense as Toronto, and especially when the team hasn’t delivered in the postseason.
For Leafs fans, it’s a much-needed dose of reassurance. While the front office figures out how to clean up the mess and get the team back on track, they can do it knowing the face of the franchise isn’t looking for the exit.
This doesn’t solve everything. There are still real issues to address - on the ice, in the locker room, and in the front office.
But at least one of the biggest questions of the offseason has already been answered. Matthews is staying.
He’s still all-in.
And for a team that’s trying to find its footing, that kind of certainty is worth its weight in gold.