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A Matthews-to-Detroit Trade Would Be Silly Season

Originally posted on NHL Trade Talk | By Old Prof | Last updated Dec 29, 2025 4:16 PM ET

I stumbled onto a hypothetical trade this morning that has Auston Matthews ending up in Detroit, and I didn’t even have to read it twice to make sure I hadn’t missed something overnight. It’s the sort of idea that gets people buzzing, even if it doesn’t survive much real scrutiny.

But this trade is entirely nonsensical. Here’s why.

Reason One: Matthews Isn’t Going Anywhere Unless He Wants To

First and foremost, Auston Matthews has a full no-movement clause through 2027-28. That means he literally cannot be traded without his permission. The Maple Leafs aren’t a retooling team—they’ve said it again and again. Matthews has every reason to stay in Toronto if he’s happy.

He’s the face, heart, and soul of the franchise. He’s built his legacy there, and unless he personally requests a trade, the Maple Leafs are keeping him. Any talk of him being shipped off is purely hypothetical because the real-world mechanics make it essentially impossible without his buy-in.

Reason Two: The Price of the Noted Matthews Trade Is Ridiculous

Even if Matthews waved his NMC—and let’s be honest, that’s a big if—the cost would be staggering. The trade proposes Lucas Raymond, Axel Sandin-Pellikka, Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, and two future first-round picks coming back to Toronto. Make any sense? Nope.

That’s not just a high price; it’s a near-catastrophic hit to a young Red Wings core. From Toronto’s side, it would mean sacrificing the present for an uncertain future. You could argue that the Red Wings have the cap space and assets to make a move. However, the Maple Leafs aren’t in a position where they have to panic. Matthews’ value is astronomical, and any team wanting him would have to overpay in a way that would leave Toronto weaker overall.

Reason Three: For the Maple Leafs, Stability Beats Speculation

When you step back and look at the whole thing, the Maple Leafs aren’t nearly as broken as some make them out to be. Morgan Rielly, William Nylander, John Tavares, Matthews — that’s still a pretty solid spine for a team, even in a down year. And then you’ve got young guys like Matthew Knies and Easton Cowan starting to find their footing.

Shaking that up for a hypothetical trade undermines everything the Maple Leafs have built. Matthews is still one of the most talented goal scorers in the game; his defensive game may have slipped a bit, and yes, he’s having an off year by his standards—but that doesn’t make trading him a smart move. The Leafs’ best bet is to keep him, push to shore up depth, and get back to winning.

At the End of the Day, This Matthews Trade Is Nonsense

At the end of the day, unless Matthews asks for a trade—and there’s zero indication he has—he’s going to be in Toronto for the long haul. Any chatter about Detroit swooping in is fun to imagine, but in reality? The Leafs keeping their superstar is the only outcome that makes sense.

This article first appeared on NHL Trade Talk and was syndicated with permission.

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