As it usually happens in the NHL, an underwhelming season is almost always accompanied by trade chatter. It happened with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Sidney Crosby, and it might happen with Auston Matthews and the Toronto Maple Leafs as well. The Atlantic Division leaders from last season have failed to maintain their momentum, as the team has dropped to the bottom of the standings.
After Mitch Marner’s exit, the Leafs have lost a pillar. Only three of the former Core Four remain. Matthews’ departure will have repercussions not just for the team but for the league as a whole. What is the possibility that the lifelong Leafs icon, who has struggled with injuries this season, takes his championship aspirations elsewhere?
Captain Auston Matthews Linked to the San Jose Sharks Amid Toronto Maple Leafs’ Disastrous Season
Writing for Sportsnet, Ryan Dixon made a shocking prediction. Dixon stated that the Leafs will miss the playoffs, and that will inevitably lead to some sort of discussion with Matthews about his future in Toronto. The standout forward is in the second year of his four-year, $53 million contract with the Leafs, which has an average annual value of $ 13.25 million.
The following year is particularly crucial in determining Matthews’ longevity in the team, and Dixon believes that the San Jose Sharks could be a potential destination for the 28-year-old.
“After missing the playoffs by two points, the Leafs will have a cards-on-the-table talk with captain Auston Matthews that results in him being dealt to the Sharks for a package built around Michael Misa,” Dixon wrote in his column of bold predictions for 2026.
We are getting so close to getting a circus-like goal from Auston Matthews pic.twitter.com/dl0vK8KNV6 https://t.co/JVSebtTMAs
— Rink Rat Report (@RinkRatReport) December 30, 2025
Dixon is far from being the first to believe that trading Matthews is a real possibility for the Leafs. Nick Kyreos expressed a similar belief not too long ago when he said that the Leafs could very well consider moving their Captain as early as this summer.
“His [Matthews’] no-movement clause comes into play, so you have to do this together. This is just not your decision,” Kypreos stated during his appearance in a recent episode of the Real Kyper and Bourne.Â
Kypreos further stated that it is unlikely such a development will occur this season. “I do believe that this is not something that can happen during this season. This is a summer decision and I don’t also buy that this is Auston for the rest of his career. I don’t believe that other teams will look at him, going ‘This is the Auston Matthews I am going to trade for? I don’t want him,'” Kypreos argued, saying that Matthews’ underwhelming output this season is not a true reflection of his capabilities.
Whether to San Jose or somewhere else, the Maple Leafs community will be invariably divided on the subject of Matthews’ trade if it ever comes to that.
