Could Artemi Panarin Be the Spark Auston Matthews and the Maple Leafs Need?
The Toronto Maple Leafs are staring down a harsh reality. Sitting at the bottom of the Atlantic Division and trailing the second wild card spot by 10 points, the odds of a playoff push this season are long - and that’s putting it kindly.
A turnaround would require a near-miraculous run, the kind that gets remembered for decades. But despite the uphill battle, there’s still chatter around a bold move that could shake up the narrative: acquiring Artemi Panarin.
Yes, that Artemi Panarin - the dynamic winger currently lighting it up elsewhere. While most signs point toward Toronto heading into a retooling phase, some voices around the team believe there’s still a window - however narrow - to make something happen. TSN’s Bryan Hayes floated the idea that bringing in Panarin could be a game-changer, especially if it means giving Auston Matthews the elite winger he’s lacked since Mitch Marner’s departure.
A Superstar for a Superstar
Let’s be clear: this wouldn’t be a small move. Trading for Panarin would come at a cost, likely thinning out an already shallow roster.
But the thinking here is simple - you’ve got to keep your franchise cornerstone happy. Matthews is in the middle of a strong bounce-back campaign, but he’s doing it largely on his own.
Without Marner, who left for the Vegas Golden Knights after tensions with the organization boiled over, Matthews has lacked a consistent, high-end partner on his wing.
William Nylander has been the closest thing to a solution, and while pairing him with Matthews creates fireworks, it also leaves the rest of the forward group looking thin. That’s where Panarin comes in. Slotting him next to Matthews could reignite the Maple Leafs' top line, giving Toronto a legitimate one-two punch with Nylander and John Tavares anchoring the second unit.
It’s not just about this season either. Even if the playoffs are out of reach, a move like this could signal to Matthews that the organization is still all-in on building a contender around him. His contract runs through the end of the 2027-28 season, and if the Leafs want to keep him long-term, showing commitment now matters.
The Cost of Standing Still
Of course, there’s the other side of the coin - the possibility that this group, as currently constructed, just doesn’t have what it takes. If management comes to that conclusion, the next steps could be drastic. That might mean trading away one of the core stars, a move that would usher in a deeper rebuild than fans have been bracing for.
That’s a tough pill to swallow for a franchise that’s spent the better part of a decade building around its current nucleus. The Leafs have had regular season success, but the playoff results haven’t followed. And after so many years of “wait until next year,” patience is wearing thin - inside and outside the locker room.
Panarin Isn’t a Fix-All - But He Might Be a Start
Let’s not pretend Panarin is a magic wand. One player, even one as talented as him, isn’t going to single-handedly fix all of Toronto’s issues.
But he could be a catalyst - a move that says, “We’re not done yet.” And in a season that feels like it’s slipping away, that kind of message can go a long way, especially to a player like Matthews who’s still in his prime and hungry to win.
Maple Leafs fans have waited since 1967 to see their team hoist the Stanley Cup again. This core was built with that goal in mind. Whether or not Panarin is the missing piece, the front office has a decision to make: lean into a retool and potentially risk the long-term future of their franchise player, or take one more big swing and see if there’s still magic left in this group.
The clock is ticking in Toronto - and the next move could define the next decade.