In the aftermath of missing their first playoffs in 9 seasons, the Toronto Maple Leafs fired general manager Brad Treliving after 3 seasons. The last time Toronto failed to make the postseason was during the 2015-16 season, after which they drafted Auston Matthews with the No. 1 pick in the 2016 NHL draft.
The new Toronto Maple Leafs GM will have crucial decision make – trade either or both of Auston Matthews and William Nylander and start to rebuild the Toronto hockey club, or retain both superstars and build a better team around them.
During his appearance on NHL Network, Maple Leafs reporter David Alter was asked about the probability of both Auston Matthews and William Nylander dressing up for the Maple Leafs at the start of the next season.
“I would say that’s a 60% chance they’re both on the opening day roster. I think Auston Matthews is going to have a lot to say about this; that’s going to be number one. That person—the new GM—is going to have a conversation with Auston Matthews, and then it’ll be up to him to decide where they want to go. And with William Nylander, it’ll be the same,” said Alter.
Alter added that given both Matthews and Nylander have full no-move clauses as part of their mammoth contracts, the front office will need to get prior approval from the superstars before finalizing any trades.
Maybe they need to move one or the other to look at assets for the future, but if it’s going to be a retool and the Leafs’ executive gets someone who feels the retool can work, then they’re going to keep those guys. Both of them have full no-moves, and I think that’s why it’s better than 50% right now,” added Alter.
Also read: Max Domi gives a brutally stern to whether Maple Leafs have a culture issue: “None of your business”
MLSE boss Keith Pelley talked to Auston Matthews after firing Brad Treliving
In his press conference following the firing of general manager Brad Treliving, MLSE president and CEO Keith Pelley revealed he reached out to Auston Matthews, who has been sidelined for the rest of the season after undergoing knee surgery to repair a grade 3 MCL tear suffered from a brutal knee-on-knee hit from Ducks’ Radko Gudas.
“Auston and I texted back and forth this morning, but I like to leave the conversations that happen with the players to the hockey operations people,” said Pelley.
Auston Matthews still has two more years left in his $53 million contract. Seasoned Toronto columnist Howard Berger speculated that Matthews will be traded from Toronto in the offseaon, and will be moved to either LA Kings, Utah Mammoth or the Anaheim Ducks in a blockbuster trade.
Edited by Srihari Anand
