The Auston Matthews conversation in Toronto keeps circling back to the same question: is the problem really the player, or is it the team built around him?
Some around the Maple Leafs want Matthews to stay locked in on what he does best - scoring. Others think that’s too neat an excuse, especially after years of the same core coming up short. One reader’s point was blunt: stars have to handle whatever the team needs, and that includes the less glamorous side of the game.
But the Leafs’ issues don’t stop with Matthews. Toronto also has to build a deeper, tougher roster instead of leaning so hard on its top names to carry the load.
That’s why the answer may not be one thing or the other. It could be a leadership problem and a roster problem, and the coming season should give a clearer read on which part is driving the frustration.
The other major trade storyline centers on Connor Hellebuyck, who has asked the Jets for a trade and put Winnipeg in a difficult spot. He still has five years left on his deal at an $8.5 million cap hit, and his no-movement clause means he’ll have a real voice in where this goes next.
As the Jets listen, a few destinations stand out. Buffalo, Carolina and New Jersey are viewed as the best fits, with Pittsburgh hanging around as a possible dark horse. Each of those teams could use an elite goalie, but the real obstacle is simple: whether any of them are willing to pay the price Winnipeg will demand.
Then there’s Chris Pronger, who managed to reopen an old wound for Oilers fans by talking about player power and trade requests. Pronger argued that players get treated unfairly when they ask out, especially when teams can move them whenever they want. His view is that modern players are just being smarter about their careers and using contract clauses to gain more control over where they play.
That didn’t land well in Edmonton. Fans there still remember Pronger signing a long-term deal, helping the Oilers reach the Stanley Cup Final, and then asking to leave not long after.
For a lot of them, that wasn’t just a business decision - it felt like a betrayal. That’s why the backlash around his comments didn’t take long to flare up again.
In Other News...
These Marlies Could Force Their Way Into The Maple Leafs Picture
The Marlies are heading into their Calder Cup defense with a familiar look, and that matters for the Maple Leafs as much as it does for the AHL club itself. Toronto has kept most of the roster intact, which gives the organization a steady base and a clear runway for players trying to prove they can become part of the NHL conversation. For a team that leans heavily on its pipeline, this season is as much about continuity as it is about development.
William Villeneuve, Ben Danford, Miroslav Holinka and Ryan Tverberg are among the names worth tracking closely, each arriving with a different kind of case to make. Some are settling into their first full AHL season, while others are looking to build on what they already showed last year, and the Marlies will need that mix to stay competitive. The intrigue for the Leafs is obvious: a strong season in Toronto could turn a few of these players from depth options into legitimate candidates for a bigger opportunity. [Read more 🡒]
Maple Leafs Could Create A Real Camp Battle With One Tryout Invite
Several NHL teams are already using professional tryout deals to sort through training camp depth, with Cal Petersen landing one in Washington and a former Toronto Marlies forward getting one in Calgary. The Maple Leafs, by contrast, have not brought anyone into camp on a PTO yet, but that could change if they decide they want a little more competition before the roster starts to take shape.
One possible name to watch is Adam Boqvist, a right-shot defenseman with NHL experience who would fit the side of the blue line Toronto could still look to sharpen up. The Leafs do have defense depth in the organization and prospects capable of filling similar roles, so any invite would be about creating a real battle rather than simply plugging a hole. [Read more 🡒]
Maple Leafs Fans May Not Like Where Shanahans Name Is Surfacing
Gary Bettmans eventual exit has already become a league-wide conversation, and with the NHL still in the midst of expansion talk, the succession chatter has started to widen. One name now surfacing is Brendan Shanahan, whose resume spans both sides of the game as a former player and longtime executive, including his run as Maple Leafs president. That combination gives him a profile few others around the league can match, especially for owners looking for someone who understands the sport from every angle.
For Leafs fans, though, seeing Shanahan linked to a potential move up the NHL ladder is the sort of development that can stir old memories and fresh uncertainty at the same time. He remains one of the more recognizable executive figures tied to Torontos recent era, and the idea of him becoming a candidate for the leagues top job adds an unexpected wrinkle to a franchise that has already lived through plenty of organizational change. For now, it is only speculation, but it is the kind of speculation that tends to linger once it starts. [Read more 🡒]