Trade chatter surrounding Auston Matthews has picked up steam following a disappointing season for the Toronto Maple Leafs. With front-office changes and uncertainty about the club’s direction, speculation has naturally shifted toward whether the franchise could consider dramatic offseason moves, including the unthinkable: moving its captain.
However, a Pittsburgh Penguins insider has downplayed the idea, suggesting a move to Pittsburgh remains purely hypothetical for now.
Insider Pumps the Brakes on Auston Matthews–Penguins Talk
Matthews saw his season cut short after a heavy knee-on-knee collision with Anaheim Ducks captain Radko Gudas led to a Grade 3 MCL injury. The star center underwent surgery and is expected to need about 12 weeks to recover, with a full return likely next season.
The play also drew attention because there was little reaction from his Leafs teammates after the hit, fueling outside speculation that Matthews could reconsider his long-term future in Toronto.
Penguins insider Josh Yohe addressed the possibility and acknowledged that if Matthews ever became available, Pittsburgh would naturally explore the option. “If he becomes available, I’d be stunned if Dubas didn’t make a call. The Penguins have the cap space and trade pieces to make a deal like that,” Yohe wrote.
He suggested that the Penguins possess both cap flexibility and trade assets to at least consider such a blockbuster move. Still, Yohe stopped well short of predicting it would actually happen.
One reason the rumor gained traction is the connection between Penguins GM Kyle Dubas and Matthews. Dubas was part of Toronto’s front office when Matthews was drafted and later signed him to a lucrative extension. That familiarity has led some to believe Pittsburgh could be a logical landing spot.
However, there are significant hurdles. “Toronto would surely want Ben Kindel, and I don’t know that Dubas would trade him,” Yohe said.
Additionally, the history surrounding Dubas’s departure from Toronto could complicate any negotiations between the two organizations.
“I also don’t know how eager the Leafs would be to trade their superstar to Dubas, who has been on the rise over the past year, as the Penguins climb and the Leafs fall. Still, Pittsburgh makes a ton of sense if Matthews wants to play elsewhere next season,” Yohe added.
Even if Pittsburgh has the financial flexibility to make a deal work, Matthews ultimately controls much of the situation due to his no-trade protection. Multiple teams would almost certainly line up if he were ever made available.
For now, the idea of Matthews heading to Pittsburgh remains speculative rather than imminent. The more likely scenario is that Toronto evaluates its direction in the offseason before making any major decisions.
