Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – March 22, 2026
In the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup: the latest speculation about Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews, and some suggested offseason trade targets for the Flyers.
MORE SPECULATION OVER AUSTON MATTHEWS FUTURE WITH THE MAPLE LEAFS
THE ATHLETIC: Chris Johnston raised the possibility that the knee-on-knee hit that ended Auston Matthews’ season, and the lack of reaction from his Maple Leafs teammates, might be “the final act in Toronto” for arguably the greatest player in franchise history.
Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews (NHL Images).
Leafs management was bound to have a discussion with Matthews during the offseason about his future before the 28-year-old center was sidelined. The club has suffered the biggest year-over-year points decline in franchise history, forcing management to become sellers at the recent trade deadline.
The Maple Leafs face an offseason of uncertainty in the front office and among the coaching staff. More changes could be coming to the roster. Johnston speculated that it might not be until June before Matthews and the Maple Leafs have a clearer picture of the club’s direction.
Matthews has two more seasons remaining on his contract. His full no-movement clause would severely limit the Maple Leafs’ efforts to get full value if they attempt to trade him. Punting next season is out of the question because they have already traded their 2027 first-round pick, and potentially their 2028 first-rounder, depending on trade conditions.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman recently reported that the Matthews camp spoke with Leafs management before the Olympic break. Everything seemed fine then despite the club’s sagging fortunes. Following Matthews’ injury, Friedman speculated the two sides could revisit those discussions within the next couple of months.
Matthews could decide to see how next season turns out before getting into more serious talks about his future.
A bounce-back performance by himself and the Maple Leafs could make him amenable to another short-term contract extension. Another season like this one, and he could decide to test the free-agent market in 2028, forcing the Leafs to start shopping him in the summer of 2027.
WHO COULD THE FLYERS TARGET IN THIS SUMMER’S TRADE MARKET?
DAILY FACEOFF: Anthony Di Marco recently looked at what centermen the Philadelphia Flyers might target in this summer’s trade market.
The Flyers were rumored to have made an offer to the Boston Bruins for prospect centers Dean Letourneau and Matthew Poitras. Neither has established themselves as NHL players yet, but they have the potential to become middle-six pivots.
Di Marco noted that the Seattle Kraken were open to trading Shane Wright, but couldn’t find any takers. He wondered if they might consider moving Matty Beniers, noting they have Chandler Stephenson signed long-term and that promising Jake O’Brien is on the way.
Robert Thomas of the St. Louis Blues could be available. However, the asking price is rumored to be the equivalent of four first-round picks, which may scare off the Flyers. However, they might get into it if the Blues lowered the price a little.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Acquiring a center is a priority for the Flyers this summer. Of Di Marco’s suggested options, landing Letourneau and/or Poitras seems the more likely.
The Kraken aren’t likely to move Beniers despite his offensive difficulties. He’s their first-line center and is in the second season of a seven-year contract with an average annual value of $7.142 million. At 23, he still has time to improve, especially if they find a suitable scoring winger for his line.
Thomas might be an option if the Blues lower their price. However, he has a full no-movement clause and might not waive it to go to Philadelphia.
Boston is loaded with young potential center prospects and they have no room for Poitras. Frazier Minten put that to rest and I don’t see Boston trading a 6ft. 7 forward to Philly.
To me, the Bruins are the surprise team of the entire season so far. I thought they would be near the bottom this season. No dice.
The Sabres and CBJ aren’t?
I thought they would be fighting for a WC but after the bad start.
Was not so sure. They have really turned it around. I give most credit to Strums coaching. Along with Swayman, MacAvoy and Pastas passing
As for east playoffs. It is open season CbJ,BOS, HABS, NYI,DET OTT,PIT, and toss in PHILLY no locks IMHO any can fall out or climb in. Great for fans
Lj,Don t forget Pittsburgh!
Di Marco saying Létourneau hasn’t established himself as a NHL player yet is true but the way it’s worded makes it sound like he’s not good enough to stay in the lineup. The reason he hasn’t established himself as an NHL player is that he’s playing for Boston College and hasn’t played a single NHL game.
This summer is going to be dominated with rumors about Matthews. The hope is that the player and team can come together early this summer and agree on a path moving forward.
Letting Marner go was a terrible mistake, but we needed someone to blame so he got the tag.
One good this – Tavaras’ team friendly contract.
Did the Leafs let Marner go? They tried to trade him, but he invoked his NTC. Then he didn’t want to stay in Toronto. As dubious as some of the Leafs’ decisions have been I can’t see how they get the blame.
Shane Wright is actually a pretty good player and had he not been touted as THE 1OA in the draft, he is totally living up to his #4 draft position statistically.
He’s a +7 on a team full of – players
He’s a player who will really do well elsewhere under management who can clearly define a role for him ( and work on his face off %)
Only problem is the cost as Kraken apparently want a top 6 winger in return even though they have him playing on the bottom 6.
By and large the Kraken, following their unexpectedly-strong playoff run in 2023, have under-performed the past two seasons. Even in what is turning out to be a glaringly-weak Western Conference this season, they are best categorized as disappointing, with a significant drop in 5-on-5 scoring – again compared to that 2022-23 season – with offensive production from their 12 Fs seen as frustratingly inconsistent due, as many have said, to lacking high-end star power. To the point where many thought THAT should have been their focus leading up this year’s trade deadline.
In addition, their pk is ranked among the worst in the league, making them rely all to often on their goalies playing lights out. They are also demonstrably deficient in the “quality shots” area.
I was never impressed with the overall performance as GM of Ron Francis, and it seems Jason Botterill may be cut from the same cloth.
Yeah, Shane Wright is doing OK – from the perspective of most expectations surrounding a bottom 6 F – but 11g 14a 25 pts in 69gp is not quite what I would expect from a # 4 overall – certainly not with 164gp under his belt. Nor are his career 82-game averages of 18g 21a 39 points anything better than what you see from the better 3rd line Fs throughout the league. The one saving grace is his $886,666 ELC cap hit which has 1 more season to run before he becomes an RFA, so on that basis his acquisition would be seen as a positive. But not at the cost of a Top 6 F.
Botterill needs to get away from copying the Ron Francis mediocre approach and start showing some daring innovations, or they’re just going to continue being … well … blah.