Playing GM: Why the Toronto Maple Leafs must trade Auston Matthews and rebuild from scratch

Since the beginning of 2026, many people have said, “2026 is going to be the new 2016.” As this year goes on, I’m starting to believe those people. The Toronto Maple Leafs missed the playoffs, won the draft lottery, and will have an opportunity to pick a future star. The Blue Jays are coming off an AL East division title, a deep playoff run, and a heartbreaking playoff loss. Also, the Toronto Raptors made the playoffs but lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers, which is either a crazy coincidence or history is repeating itself.

In 2016, the Leafs finished dead last in the NHL and won the draft lottery, drafting an American-born forward with the number one pick. He eventually became a star for the Leafs and one of the league’s best goal scorers. Not to mention he’s also currently the captain of the Leafs.

An era wasted

Ten years ago, the Leafs were beaming with young talent, with Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, and William Nylander all coming to Toronto via the NHL draft. All three of these guys were top-10 picks in consecutive years: 2014, 2015, and 2016. When you think about the Leafs having the longest Stanley Cup drought in the league, many people thought these three would finally bring Toronto a championship. However, after nine years of underachieving and playoff heartbreak, they split the trio up, trading Marner to Vegas. He is currently leading the league in playoff points in 2026.

In 2026, the Leafs fired GM Brad Treliving and head coach Craig Berube, signifying the end of an era for the blue and white. However, I don’t think it should stop there. For the last decade or so, the Leafs have blamed the management and front office for their lack of success. I’ve said it before, but the only one who deserved it, in my opinion, is Kyle Dubas. The core four era was his work, and it failed drastically. He expected multiple cups, and instead, the Leafs got multiple opening-round victories.

However, when you go long enough without a playoff series win to the point that your drought can legally have a beer in Canada, at what point do you begin to place the blame on the players? I think the Leafs are and should be at that point. It’s time to blow it up. In the Auston Matthews era, they’ve been legitimate contenders twice in 10 years: 2021 and 2025. It’s time to move on! I’m putting on a John Chayka mask and rebuilding the Leafs.

Culture shift

The NHL is a business with insane amounts of money, and some owners and franchises take different approaches to building their teams as a result. Some franchises are totally satisfied with making the playoffs and losing in six in the first round year after year, which, to some, is a great way to build a team. The 2010s Nashville Predators are the team that comes to mind.

However, the Leafs shouldn’t handle it that way. Playing in a big market like Toronto with an insane amount of fandom and media coverage comes with expectations. The fan base has had a “this is our year” mentality since Matthews, Marner, and Nylander came into the league. However, that didn’t work, so it’s time to build from the ground up.

Blow it up!

Step 1: Everyone is gone! Unless your name is Matthew Knies, Easton Cowan, or Ben Danford, you’re gone! Why? Because we’ve seen this movie over and over, it’s becoming one of those DVDs you had as a kid, and you’d just watch it religiously. This team has proven time and again that they won’t get it done when it matters most.

Trade your veterans for picks, trade Matthews, who I believe is the most overrated player in the league, but that’s a whole different conversation. Trade Nylander, trade Morgan Rielly, all for as many picks and as much cap space as you can get.

The Leafs have built a culture that seems to be the definition of insanity. “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results,” as Albert Einstein once said (I don’t think he actually said this, but whatever). The Leafs have done this for the past decade.

Start of something new

Step 2: Pick Gavin McKenna in this year’s draft. He’s highly skilled, scouts have said his ceiling is a Patrick Kane-type player. I’ll be honest, watching McKenna at the 2026 World Juniors, I wasn’t his biggest fan. I thought he was soft as warm butter.

Then, he had the altercation at a bar in Pennsylvania after a 5–4 OT loss to Michigan State in January. After the incident, naturally, social media and news outlets went wild. However, after my takeaway from his performance at the WJC, I would’ve wanted him on my team even more if I were a GM.

During the incident, another kid was apparently running his mouth toward McKenna’s mother, and it kept escalating. As a result, McKenna punched this kid in the face, breaking his jaw in three different places. Charges were initially laid but later dropped.

This shows McKenna is going to stand up for those close to him, and if you watched the Leafs this year, that’s what they need. Auston Matthews suffered a season-ending injury against Anaheim, and NOBODY responded or did anything. The Leafs need a guy like McKenna to start a culture shift.

A whole new roster

Step 3: Reinvent what it means to play for the Leafs. For the last decade, the Leafs have been labelled as skilled but soft, and they underachieved like crazy. As soon as they played a team like Florida, the stars would quit. Which is why Marner is better off not on the Leafs. The Golden Knights have played Utah and Anaheim, two teams built on speed and skill. Which is exactly why he’s thriving, because he’s gaining the confidence that he doesn’t get against a team built on physicality.

Build a team and a culture around McKenna; he’s the new Auston Matthews. Get guys who are skilled but can also hold their own physically. This way, you won’t get run over by the Panthers in the playoffs; you can actually dish it back to them.

Keep doing this through the draft and through any possible trades until you become an actual contender. By then, the Leafs will have a legitimate chance at a Stanley Cup. Obviously, this is easier said than done, especially for a spectator like me, but this is how you win. Not by throwing money at your star players before they’ve won anything.