Auston Matthews Addresses Maple Leafs Future After Disappointing Season
The Toronto Maple Leafs just finished one of their worst seasons in decades. Despite winning the Atlantic Division last year and entering this season as a playoff favorite, the team fell short of expectations. They finished last in their division and second-to-last in the Eastern Conference with only 78 points.
Defensive struggles defined the year as they allowed 299 goals this season, ranking 31st in the NHL. This failure snapped a nine-season playoff streak that began in 2016-17, made worse by a seven-game losing skid to end the schedule.
With General Manager Brad Treliving fired and the front office in chaos, the focus has shifted to Auston Matthews. The captain's future is uncertain as he recovers from a season-ending MCL injury while the roster around him continues to change.
At his final press conference of the season, Auston Matthews was non-committal about his long-term future in Toronto. He left the door open for an exit with a cryptic comment, while expressing a desire to be part of the solution.
"I mean, I can't predict the future. Obviously, there are steps that kind of have to take place. They've got to hire new leadership at management and stuff like that, so I don't really know. Like I said, I can't really predict the future," Matthews said.
"I can't really predict the future."
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 16, 2026
Auston Matthews speaks on his future in Toronto. pic.twitter.com/i3FHZtKfx9
Matthews' comments mean more considering how his year ended. A knee-on-knee hit from Radko Gudas in mid-March left him with a Grade 3 MCL tear, cutting his season short.
He finished with 27 goals and 53 points in 60 games. For the first time in his career, he failed to reach 30 goals or average a point per game. After scoring 69 goals just two seasons ago, that downfall is impossible to ignore.
Plus, the chaos within the organization adds to the uncertainty as the former general manager is no longer with the team following their playoff miss.
At 28, he has two years left on his $53 million contract and won't hit free agency until 2028. There is no immediate rush, but the clock is ticking. Whoever takes over hockey operations will need to convince Matthews that the team has a winning plan before he decides his future.
While insiders report he hasn't asked for a trade yet, his guarded tone at the podium suggests he is waiting to see what happens next.
Related: Maple Leafs' Craig Berube Addresses His Future in Toronto
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This story was originally published April 16, 2026 at 9:08 AM.