Maple Leafs rumors: Auston Matthews will play for Toronto next season, says LeBrun

It was a highly disappointing season for the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2025-26. As the club has made changes to the front office and the coaching staff, there were rumors that Auston Matthews may want to leave the Maple Leafs.

Now, those rumors will be put to rest, according to Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic.

“All signs point to Auston Matthews staying put and playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs next season,” LeBrun wrote. “Matthews’ agent, Judd Moldaver, hasn’t formally indicated that to the Leafs, but that’s where it’s very much trending from what I understand. When the season ended, there was no GM in Toronto. There were so many unknowns, and it was natural for Matthews to have questions.”

Matthews missed a large part of the season after needing surgery due to a torn MCL. Still, in his 60 games, he was able to find the back of the net 27 times while having 26 assists. The former first overall selection has played his entire career with the Maple Leafs. Overall, he has played 689 games, scoring 428 goals and adding 352 helpers.

He also still has two years left on the four-year extension he signed in 2023, which took effect for the 2024-25 season. While the team may be excited that Matthews is returning, other teams will be disappointed.

“So, unless something dramatic happens in the coming weeks, the Leafs captain will be back next season in Toronto. That’ll be disappointing for a long list of teams that were keeping an eye on how things developed on the Matthews front, including the likes of the Los Angeles Kings, Anaheim Ducks, and Utah Mammoth,” LeBrun concluded.

Now the Maple Leafs can turn their focus to the first pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. The draft is set for June 26, and the Leafs are expected to pick Gavin McKenna first overall.

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