Auston Matthews Leaving Maple Leafs? Insider Prediction Stirs Panic

The idea of Auston Matthews‘ time with the Toronto Maple Leafs coming to an end is the last thing fans want to see this week. Toronto will be abuzz on Friday evening, as its infamous former superstar Mitch Marner returns home for his only trip to the city this season. While most times the return of a franchise favorite brings happy memories, Friday night will likely be anything but that.

Most Maple Leafs fans believe Toronto will be just fine without Marner. The players who signed extensions and stayed, like Matthews, William Nylander, and John Tavares, are the ones who hold the city close to their hearts and will be the ones to end the city’s Stanley Cup drought. However, Sportsnet personality Nick Kypreos had some concerning comments about Matthews’ future in a recent article for the Toronto Star.

“In a short span, [Matthews] watched changes ripple through ownership, the front office, behind the bench and, most important, in the lineup. He’s seen the team’s prospect and draft capital thinned to the bone. He’s watched elite NHL players force a change of scenery, like Matthew Tkachuk did with the Calgary Flames in 2022 and Quinn Hughes with the Vancouver Canucks this season. Could he consider doing the same?”

Matthews has two years remaining on his deal after this season. While the Leafs might think it’s too early for the captain to give up on the team, there might be some tough conversations for the entire organization if Toronto fails to make the playoffs.

Auston Matthews’ Attempting To Lead Leafs Out Of Funk

Matthews has been on fire in January, scoring 10 goals in the team’s 11 games. He is back to being one of the top scorers in the league, but the Leafs have only won six of those contests. A lack of depth down the lineup and a brutal defensive unit riddled with injuries have Toronto on the outside looking in of the playoff picture.