Auston Matthews Speaks About His Maple Leafs Future

Thursday, April 16, 2026

Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews

It was locker cleanout day for the Toronto Maple Leafs—a lot earlier than usual this season, as their first year out of the playoffs in a decade wrapped up. 

Auston Matthews, whose season was ended even more prematurely last month after the Radko Gudas takedown, faced the media today for the first time to speak about the Leafs' future, and his own. 

And as you'd expect, he played his cards close to the vest. But simply because there's so much uncertainty around the franchise at this point. 

"I can't predict the future... They have to hire new leadership and management and stuff like that. So, I don't really know. Like I said, I can't really predict the future."

Is this the place you want to be, he was asked?

"I think there's always noise, there's always chatter. Personally, I don't really pay attention to all that. I just focus on myself, focus on this team and try to be a part of the solution."

The real question that should have been asked, however, as noted by insider Mike Johnson on TSN's Overdrive, was this:

"It's not 'will you commit to Toronto', it's 'what has to happen for you to commit to Toronto?'... What do you need to see to want to commit to this team long-term?"

But what Matthews did say, that might give Leafs Nation hope, is this:

"I love being the captain of this team. I think it's an incredible honour to wake up every day and wear this jersey. And I think that's not lost, despite the circumstances and the way this season went."

No definitive answers on locker cleanout day. Nor were any really expected. But the questions will get a lot more serious once a new head of hockey operations and/or GM is named. 

Photo: © Morgan Tencza-Imagn Images 

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