NHL Rumor Mill – March 31, 2026
A list of several proposed trade destinations for Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews, and the latest on the Rangers in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
BETWEEN THE POSTS: Former Toronto sports pundit Howard Berger reports a “good source” told him that Auston Matthews won’t be back with the Maple Leafs.
Berger’s source claimed the 28-year-old center and team captain would be traded this summer to one of three teams: the Anaheim Ducks, Los Angeles Kings, or the Utah Mammoth. Because Matthews grew up in the southwestern United States, those clubs would apparently top Matthews’ list of preferred trade destinations.
Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Kings would probably love to land Matthews as a replacement for the retiring Anze Kopitar. However, they might not have sufficient trade capital to win the bidding for his services, unless the Kings are the only team he’d want to be traded to.
BLEACHER REPORT: Based on Berger’s report, Hannah Stuart compiled what the trade packages might look like for the Ducks and Mammoth to acquire Matthews, but she included the Philadelphia Flyers and San Jose Sharks as destinations.
Stuart admits she is working within the framework of “pie in the sky trade that could still possibly happen”, but that’s because “Leafs fans deserve some nice things sometimes.”
From the Ducks, Stuart proposed a return of center Mason McTavish, defenseman Pavel Mintyukov, and a second-round pick, with the Maple Leafs retaining 50 percent of Matthews’ $13.25 million average annual value through 2027-28.
Stuart pitched an offer of prospect Tij Iginla, winger JJ Peterka, and a second-round pick from the Mammoth, with the Maple Leafs retaining 50 percent of Matthew’s cap hit. From the Flyers, Porter Martone, Rasmus Ristolainen, and a second-rounder, with the Maple Leafs retaining 25 percent.
From the Sharks, Stuart proposed an offer of William Eklund, Sam Dickinson, and a third-rounder.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bear in mind that there has been nothing to suggest Matthews and the Maple Leafs will part ways this summer. There has been only some media speculation based on the club’s poor performance this season and the Leafs’ lack of reaction when Radko Gudas of the Ducks ended Matthews’ season with a knee-on-knee hit two weeks ago.
Matthews has two years left on his contract. He could remain patient and see whether the moves Leafs management makes this summer help the club rebound next season.
If Matthews tells management he wants to be traded, most observers will likely scoff at Stuart’s proposed offers. However, his full no-movement clause means he’ll only agree to be traded to a handful of teams.
As we’ve seen in recent years with the trades of Patrick Kane and Artemi Panarin, those clubs will have the leverage, especially when Matthews reaches the final season of his contract. In that case, Stuart’s proposed trade offers could be better than what the Leafs might actually get.
Anyway, feel free to weigh in with your reaction to those pitches, and let us know what type of return you think Matthews might fetch in the trade market.
THE ATHLETIC: Peter Baugh recently evaluated the recent trades of New York Rangers general manager Chris Drury as he attempts to retool the roster.
Baugh observed that younger players traded away by Drury (Kaapo Kakko, K’Andre Miller) have improved with their new clubs. He believes the Rangers must examine what went wrong with their handling of Kakko and Miller before bringing in more young talent.
If the Rangers are headed toward a full rebuild, the addition of aging center J.T. Miller looks ill-advised, making the club older while costing them a first-round pick in the process.
Baugh is concerned about how Drury intends to retool after moving on from Artemi Panarin. He noted that this summer’s free-agent class is weak, and the Rangers don’t have as many trade chips as other clubs closer to contention. While the Blueshirts will have salary-cap space to add to their roster, Baugh believes it works only if there are players to use it on.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Center Vincent Trocheck remains a significant trade chip for the Rangers. That lack of quality talent in this summer’s free-agent pool could force teams to turn to the trade market. Those who were reluctant to meet Drury’s asking price for Trocheck at the trade deadline could be more willing to do so in the offseason.
Nevertheless, Baugh makes some good points about the Rangers’ development system and how they might not be as enticing a destination for top talent hoping to join a playoff contender. It will take some significant salesmanship by Drury to pull it off.
What say you, Rangers fans? Let us know in the comments below.
Those suggested returns from three teams are all pretty weak. Especially since a well-rested and healed Matthews could flourish away from the Toronto magnifying glass. Some team could get a great deal.
I don’t think the Leafs are trading away their best player AND retaining salary for those returns.
As long as there are several teams he is willing to go to the returns should be much better than what is proposed in this article.
If San Jose is the destination, I think they’ll ask for Misa or Graf before Ecklund.
Are they going full rebuild or just retool on the fly?
If it’s full rebuild they will want multiple 1st round picks or very good young NHL players aged 20-23.
Another question is…who else goes with him? Do they approach all the core players and ask for a list of destinations? Something with this team is clearly amiss.
Daryl, re “Are they going full rebuild or just retool on the fly?” is something we won’t know one way or another until they hire a replacement for Treleving. And the big question now is – when will that be?
In the other thread Lyle mentions Armstrong again from St. Louis as a possible GM replacement. He, in addition to Mark Hunter, Chris Pronger, Edmonton assistant GM Bill Scott and Leafs assistant GM Brandon Pridham have also been proposed as possibilities by Lance Hornby in the Sun.
As I mentioned a while back, we also don’t know if whoever is tasked with the hiring (Keith Pelley??) has already decided as to whether it will be a re-tool or a re-build – or if that question will be put to the candidates in the hiring interview.
In the meantime, does Pridham run things to the end of the regular schedule, or will they make a decision fairly soon?
Who is this person. None of those offers would secure Matthews. Better start added some 1st rd pic in there as well
In normal circumstances none of these proposals are even close to what it would take to get Matthews. I don’t see the Leafs trading him this summer. But if they struggle again next season and he’s hesitant about extending then they’ll certainly listen to offers next summer.
Was surprised to see actual reasonable trade proposals for Mathews. And that’s if he is foolish and gives the leafs a list of preferred trade destinations. If I were Mathews and the leafs came to me asking for a list I’d scoff and tell them “you want to uproot me and my family and you want a list? I’m going here and I don’t want them paying to much for me cause I want them as competitive as possible “.
My take.
Leafs are not going to go rebuild.
They have a strong roster that collectively had a crappy season, a season that was also unique for condensed schedules, limited practice times and the distraction of the Olympics.
Are they a cup contender…no…but they are what 1 or 2 pieces from being that again? Get 1 in the summer one by deadline…(i realize it is not that easy…but you get my point)
I do not believe they are hiring a new GM to tear it down. It will be one more go at it with Matthews imo.
And while I am at it…I might as well predict Peter Chirelli as new GM.
The leafs are an aging disjointed collection of crap.
-B goaltending
-C defense
a group of random B level forwards thrown together without much cohesion. Oh and Mathews. A re-tool won’t fix this. They missed their window. Trade Mathews to Chicago for Beddard and one other piece. Nothing retained.
LJ
I’m going to beat a dead horse re our exchange.
Not sure if I worded poorly or you chose to misread.
I linked the faceoff % and Zacha earning 20 pts more than the Habs 2C.
You appear to be talking about a link of faceoff% to points in team standings.
I also linked the increased 20 pt production of the player to a potential few points in a very tight standing race.
To make it clear again, Zacha as a Hab 2C would have contributed 20 more points to the 2nd line, would have won more faceoffs, would have impacted the poor pk, would have cancelled the need to trade a 2nd for Carbonneau, an older, less productive, more expensive player.
That increased production would most probably have added a few points in the standings, I have no idea how many, but it doesn’t take much to seriously impact a tight race.
Next year is a different story, the playoffs, draft, free agency and trades can still be made for guys who won’t play NHL games this year.
Extreme example a team might be willing to to pay a mid-low draft pick for a pending UFA just to have negotiation rights for a few months.
Phillip Danault?
lol my brain cramp yes of course Danault, next brain cramp is my following post on TML GM as it belongs in the “headlines”
HabFan that horse has been flogged to death long ago.
Why stop with Zacha. Imagine how much more Connor McDavid would have contributed. But he wasn’t available either. Let’s come to terms with the fact that the Bruins were not trading Zacha unless they got a ridiculous offer. Which they obviously didn’t.
It wouldn’t surprise me if TML hired Don Meehan or
pat Brisson to be GM.
Pierre Lacroix was an agent for 20 years before becoming GM of Nordiques/Avalanche
Bill Zito, Kent Hughes, and others have made the transition with success.
Those guys might just find the politics of dealing with a board easier on top of having established and respected relations with players and team management throughout the league.
I think Mathews would have to include a first and no retention. After all Leafs have given #1 picks away frivolously and need one back
I knew Tre was going to get fired. He also mismanaged the Flames and that was no fishbowl
Utah has a boat load to offer. I believe more than anyone else on that list . I also think TJ is off the table. Maybe Cooley and a top D prospect in return throw in a But ( no if’s or ands)
Without retention they may have little to no teams that Mathews approves that can afford him. And again. It’s trans nathews approves that they can trade him to. Leafs need a 1st? Sure they do. Does Mathews need to waive? No. Do the leafs need to trade him now? No. Do they need to trade him in 2 years? If he doesn’t sign they do. Interesting game of chicken possibly coming up