The Toronto Maple Leafs are heading into the offseason with more questions than answers. After the team missed the playoffs for the first time in nearly a decade, uncertainty surrounds the roster, management, and long-term direction, including the future of star captain Auston Matthews.
Why Mike Johnson Believes Auston Matthews Will Stay with the Maple Leafs
Speculation intensified after Toronto dismissed general manager Brad Treliving, fueling talk of a potential rebuild or retool. With that uncertainty, trade rumors involving Matthews have surfaced, especially after his season-ending injury.
Matthews suffered a Grade 3 MCL injury following a knee-on-knee collision with Radko Gudas of the Anaheim Ducks. The star center underwent surgery and is expected to need roughly 12 weeks to recover, with a return projected for next season. The incident also sparked discussion after there was little visible reaction from teammates, leading to outside speculation about his long-term commitment to Toronto.
Former Leafs winger Mike Johnson, who spent four seasons with the club, dismissed the idea that Matthews is looking for an exit. Johnson said, “He likes Toronto. He likes playing here. He likes living here. He’s not run out of Toronto because he doesn’t like it because the heat’s too much because of the media. None of that stuff bothers him. He probably doesn’t love it at times. He’s probably miserable looking at times, whatever… He wants to be a Leafs winning player.”
Johnson’s comments indirectly relate to Mitch Marner, who departed Toronto for the Vegas Golden Knights, ending a tenure marked by mounting tension and criticism from portions of the fanbase. While Marner’s situation involved years of scrutiny, Johnson believes Matthews’ case is fundamentally different.
However, he noted that the team’s direction could still play a role. If the organization commits to a full rebuild, Johnson suggested Matthews might reconsider his future with the organization. But if Toronto opts for a retool aimed at competing soon, Matthews is likely to stay and see how things unfold.
“But if he doesn’t know if he’s going to win, and I don’t know, maybe they tell him behind the scenes what they’re not telling us. But we just spent the last week talking about retool, rebuild and what’s going to happen and who’s going to take over,” Johnson added.
For now, the Toronto Maple Leafs’ direction remains uncertain. How management builds the roster in the coming months could ultimately decide whether Auston Matthews stays at the center of Toronto’s long-term plans. Their attention now turns to Wednesday’s game against the Washington Capitals.
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