Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – March 15, 2026
Check out the latest on the future of Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews and the latest Blues speculation in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.
QUESTIONS ARISE ABOUT AUSTON MATTHEWS’ FUTURE WITH THE MAPLE LEAFS
SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports Auston Matthews’ season-ending knee injury could “start the clock” on how the 29-year-old Maple Leafs captain feels about things in Toronto from the time the two sides touched base in February about his future.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Matthews suffered a season-ending knee injury on Thursday from a knee-on-knee hit by Radko Gudas of the Anaheim Ducks. A repeat offender, Gudas received what amounted to a slap on the wrist from the league in the form of a five-game suspension.
Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews (NHL Images).
Friedman believes Matthews will now have more time to think about his situation. He expects the two sides to meet over the next couple of months to determine how everyone feels about Matthews’ overall future in Toronto.
The lack of reaction to Gudas’ hit on Matthews from the latter’s teammates drew plenty of criticism in Leafs Nation. Friedman believes that will have ramifications for the franchise’s future direction.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Matthews is signed through 2027-28. Whatever the Leafs do this summer will determine if he’s still with the franchise before that contract expires.
Matthews’ injury represents the lowest point in what’s been a miserable season for the Maple Leafs. Change is expected in the front office and behind the bench, and there could be more trades. However, their captain’s future will be the biggest question hanging over this team in the offseason.
THE LATEST BLUES MUSINGS
THE ATHLETIC: Jeremy Rutherford recently examined how a Robert Thomas trade could affect the growth of the St. Louis Blues’ young players.
The Blues entertained trade offers for the 26-year-old center before the March 6 deadline. He is signed through 2030-31 with an average annual value of $8.125 million and a full no-trade clause.
Rutherford expects the Blues could revisit the situation in the offseason, when they could find a suitable offer and eventually ask Thomas to waive his NTC. However, he wondered what effect moving Thomas might have on young wingers Dylan Holloway and Jimmy Snuggerud, whose upward development is crucial for the club’s future.
DAILY FACEOFF: Jeff Marek and Steve Peters recently discussed what the Blues’ plans might be for the offseason.
Marek believes a lot depends on what strides their young players make. How quickly promising Dalibor Dvorsky becomes a legitimate second-line center will determine a lot of what management does in the offseason. He also wondered what would happen to Pius Suter if Dvorsky proves himself as a top-six forward.
Jordan Kyrou was among the Blues believed to be available. Marek pointed out that there had been talk linking him to the New York Islanders. Marek wondered if the Washington Capitals might be interested.
The Blues still require a right-shot defenseman. He thinks the Montreal Canadiens would’ve made sense for any type of Robert Thomas deal, because they have the right-shot blueliners that the Blues would covet.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Doug Armstrong will be handing over the general manager role to assistant Alex Steen at the end of this season, though he’ll remain as president of hockey operations. Armstrong will have input, but it will be Steen’s show.
Thomas said he remains committed to the Blues, that he was never approached about waiving his no-trade clause, and doesn’t want to be moved. He has full control over this situation. Management can continue listening to offers, but we don’t know what it will take to convince Thomas to waive his clause.
Kyrou is in the same situation as Thomas. He’s in the first season of his eight-year contract with the same AAV and a full NTC.
Nevertheless, we can expect to hear their names floating around in the offseason rumor mill. The same applied to goaltender Jordan Binnington, who has a year left on his contract with a 12-team no-trade list.
Matthews traded out of Toronto for a 1st line capable C and a 1st and a NHL ready prospect and possibly another lesser pick or prospect, would be beneficial to Toronto. Leafs had a string of bad luck and maybe this breaks the “curse”. 🤔
Absolutely no doubt about that Johnny Z.
The one fly in the ointment there, of course, is his full NMC. Which means any such deal will have to be with a team he’d be willing to go to AND be one able to make the moves necessary in order to absorb his $13,250,000 cap hit.
That sort of narrows down the field immensely.
And if and when it ever did transpire, it will likely fall into the category “wow … never saw that coming” with reactions ranging from “he went for a lot less than I figured” to “THAT is a risky over-payment” and excluding “good deal for both sides.”
True, but there are a few up and coming teams that could take the hit and have the package. However, if they look at what Toronto did with Tavares, they shouldnt, because that is in my book the big mistake they did and thats not on Tavares but on management
Yeah … and Matthews will be turning 29 just before opening night next season. Tavares, by comparison, was about to turn 28 when the Leafs signed him out of New York. And he wasn’t coming off an MCL tear.
Will Matthews be the next star player overly demanding Toronto fans chase out of town? I know that, if I was one of the best players in the NHL, got hurt by a dirty player and my teammates did nothing, the first thing I would do is tell management where to shove it while giving them a list of acceptable trade destinations. Look at Adam Fantilli in yesterday’s game.
The feeling seems to be growing that Matthews will be out of Toronto before his contract expires. I would guess that Matthews and the team both think that the Leafs have gone as far as Matthews could take them and it’s time to move on and retool.
There could be a fit with the Blues. Matthews for Thomas and a pick or good prospect. Both of those teams need to reset and both of those players need a change of scenery.
And I don’t see how Marek feels that the Habs have the right shot blue liners whom the Blues would covet. The Habs right side now consists of Dobson, who’s definitely not going anywhere, and Carrier who has struggled this season. Given this, I don’t see Reinbacher being traded because that would leave the Habs pipeline thin on RD. Bryce Pickford may be a possible trade chip but I get the idea that most observers are still wary of his NHL potential in spite of his strong season in the WHL.
The Blues certainly have the coming cap flexibility to accommodate Matthews. The only question there would be his view of that destination.
Spitballing
Matthews to kings. For 1st 2nd. In 26. LAFERRIERE Clarke. And a prospect
THAT is a risky over-payment. (LOL)
I say that because, although the Leafs are “hopeful” that he won’t require surgery, an MCL tear usually results in that. And so, of course, any team expressing an interest in acquiring him at his cap hit and the expected cost in assets, is going to want to be ABSOLUTELY certain he is back to 100%.
George
Those type of surgeries today are pretty straight forward for return to 100%
I only dreamed they had them when Orr was playing
As far as over paying … that is less than what blues want for Thomas. And he is no where near 34 in talent few in nhl are
Sometimes suspect AI spat out that it takes 9 – 10 months for an athlete to return from a grade 3 mcl.
So any team trading for Matthews in the off season would get him for the last half of next season. Even then, allowance has to be made for him getting back to form.
This, plus other considerations make trading him in the off season a challenge:
Durability: Not including this season, he has only 2 seasons without missing a game. A few of those seasons saw significant time lost.
Acquisition cost: As noted, not only would it take a team with significant cap space, but a deep prospect pool. No point in acquiring Matthews by depleting your existing roster. A narrow field of possibilities.
Competitiveness: Lesser players have been traded for firsts at the trade deadline on the basis of their being part of a Cup winning team. By no means is the Leafs’ dismal playoff record all on Matthews, but if you are a GM wouldn’t you at least think about his lack of success in the playoffs?
Matthews scores at a 45% rate in the playoffs (and lower still the last three years). Should you get more for his cap hit? McDavid scores at a .55% rate, MacKinnon at 68%.
Matthews at his best is an elite scorer. They don’t become available often. But all this IMO puts the Leafs in a position of not getting a return they want if they – or Matthews – want a trade.
I think the return will be less than people expect if he asks out plus has a full NMC. He will pick where he wants to go, so a team looking to do it will only be competing with another team or 2, or none at all.
The team that makes sense is Boston, from a need and assets perspective.
I don’t hate Matthews as a player just not sure the fire is there. I get it not everybody show their emotions or intensity, but just his play seems a bit robotic.
But then again they named him captain of the US team, so they think he has the right qualities.
Salary would need to go back, a guy like Zacka who is a C or Middelstadt, who used to be.
Young assets? I have no idea. And it would be next off season for timing? Like George said some risk with his health for next season as he won’t be 100% until the following season after major surgery. Why sell low?
I dunno but the B’s have 2 extra firsts and a couple decent prospects.
Also won’t happen in Boston unless you can sign him, which won’t happen until next off season.
Utah makes alot of sense to me . New city sell lots of jerseys, plays with Keller.team on the rise loaded with good prospects . Have cap room but leafs could hold some sallary
HF30: During the Habs’ game last night a commentator said there were only 5 tandems in the NHL with a save % of .900 or better. Fits with your recent comment.
LJ,
I wasn’t pulling it out of a hat, I gave examples of “good” goalies who’s game was less than the Habs tandem this year.
While Dobes clearly wins more games and Fowler was called up, I’m sure you noticed that Dobes let in 2 Montengoals last night.
One was a deflection in the slot, another a deflection off a player. Hard to pin those on Dobes. And the Habs were sloppy, again.
I like Utah. Isn’t Mathews an Arizona boy ?
It might have to involve either Cooley OR Guenther +++
MCL surgery is 6 months . Better get on it
Ironic that the Leafs have been trying to build a tougher playoff team and now find themselves outside looking in
The bright side is the Leafs are going to get a good prospect in June .
Oh, and of course, NO STATE TAX!
Matthews and Knies and OEL to Dallas for Harley and Robertson and 2027 1st😁🎉👍
Texas may be close enough to AZ for Matthews, and the fact they are very much in the running for Lord Stanley’s Cup doesn’t hurt their chance that Austin waives for the state that named their capital city after him! 😁
One team that could make a huge overpay for Matthews is Anaheim. I imagine a package of: Mason McTavish, Roger McQueen, Pavel Mintyukov and Ana’s 1st in 2026 would be sufficient.
Matthews was born in CA, just a short distance away from San Jose.
There is a team that may have all the necessary ingredients for a trade.
Plenty of prospects, cap space, and draft capital.
They have two 2026 1st round picks, one acquired from EDM. Giving up one won’t cripple them.
Leafs are not likely going full rebuild so they will want an NHL player or two coming back, one definitely being a Centre. Collin Graf would be the target.
It has been written that Bill Guérin loves Matthews so perhaps a reunion with his Team USA buddies could be in the cards.
Unfortunately, the complete lack of reaction from long time team mate Rielly is not a good look for anyone.
Maybe a trade for Thomas and GM Armstrong can be worked out with STL
I don’t see TOR trading him anywhere within the Eastern Conference
There’s been a lot of comments recently about often injured centers and it made me curious so I channeled my inner George and came up with the following. I took the last 5 years prior to this year and averaged the total games played per year and the number of times the players made it to 82 games.
McDavid 72.2 1
Kucherov 71. 1
Hintz 70. 0
Larkin. 70. 1
Trochek 69.6. 3
Matthews. 69.4. 0
MacKinnon 69. 1
Thomas. 66. 1
Barkov. 65. 0
Hischier. 63.6. 0
Hughes. 61.4. 0
Make of it what you will and this isn’t everybody but some interesting numbers.
The last number is the number of times playing 82 games sorry but producing graphs isn’t my strong suit.