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!
Toronto St Pats, by “surprise team of the entire season so far” I assume you’re referring only to “pleasant surprises. If not, there are some doozies among the “unpleasant surprises.” 🙂
On that basis, and comparing the standings on March 22, 2025 to today’s standings, here are the top 10 biggest gains in points:
Buffalo 60 to 94 +34
San Jose 47 to 70 +23
Pittsburgh 68 to 86 +18
Boston 69 to 86 +17
Philadelphia 65 to 80 +15
Columbus 71 to 85 +14
Nashville 60 to 73 +13
Anaheim 68 to 80 +12
Montreal 75 to 86 +11
Colorado 89 to 100 +11
Oops. Overlooked Detroit. Last year on this date they had 70 points – this year 84 for a +14, tying them with Columbus
LJ. I didn’t say BUf and CMH were not. Buffalo is probably the biggest.
But I did not expect Boston to be in the game for the next two years. Doing better than expected.
Buffalo should have been better years ago. Just needed kick.
George. Sabres’ fans have endured 14 seasons of nonstop darkness. I don’t consider their rise a surprise, more like miraculous! Let’s see if they can keep it up, nothing for sure yet. Columbus had the talent but needed a change behind the bench. They got that mid season.
Sam Jose is led by a generational talent. Pittsburgh will always be legit with Sid in the lineup.
I just didn’t see much in Boston’s lineup at the start of the season that made me think they’d be in the hunt. They played a nice game last night.
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.
Ya, he could have worded it better Gored1970.
I wonder how the B’s handle Letourneau. He was always a bit of a wild card pick and a project. He gets compared to Tage Thompson due to his stature, no idea if that’s how it works out, but here’s hoping.
Took Thompson a while, as it normally does with the tall lanky guys. His first season at BC was yikes, and then a big jump. SO now looks promising for the B’s.
Thompson played parts of 4 seasons in AHL and really didn’t take off until he was 24. Although there was covid thrown in there.
Wouldn’t surprise me if the same trajectory with Letourneau happens. Also wouldn’t surprise me if the left him at BC for another year. More skills practice and gym time with fewer games.
Save a year of ELC I think?
Not sure what’s best for the player but it sure seems to take a while for everything to sync with these big kids.
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.
LJ – we ran Marner out of town. He just went out his way not ours.
Toronto St Pats, I truly don’t think either Matthews or the organization are necessarily “determined” to part ways.
I mean, just looking at the basic limitations, there is that massive $13.25 mil cap hit with 2 years to run so, unless something surfaces over the summer involving a location for which he’d waive his NMC and that could absorb the cap hit without being required to move out a heft contract or two of their own – AND involving assets coming to Toronto that the Leafs see as reasonable (as opposed to the scraps they got for Marner after being backed into the proverbial corner) I believe he comes back.
George. Matthew’s is the captain and the leader. It is in the best interests of the team and the player to determine their future. If they don’t, then the rumors and distractions are just going to dog the team moving forward. I think he needs to stay. Why let the situation linger like we did with Marner.
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.
Right now their top points producer is Jordan Eberle with 22g 27a 49 points, ranking his 87th to 91st in the league. And after him it drops to 44 points for Beniers and 41 points for each of Stephenson and Dunn.
George,
If you look at Wrights draft year, he sits at 4th in pretty much every category and that’s where he was drafted.
GP- 4th
G-4th
A- 6th
Pts-5th
Hutson messed up the rankings with all of his unexpected assists and points.
Good valid points. Thanks for the research.
But I still wouldn’t give up an established top 6 F for him … maybe for he and a top draft pick.
I totally agree with you and that’s most likely why the Kraken were unable to move him the ask is too high.
He’s a bottom 6 player with a high ceiling which he may or may not attain elsewhere.
Realistically his trade vale in my opinion is a 3rd liner going the other way straight up or a prospect plus a 3rd rounder.
McTavish for Berniers
or Mctavish for Wright?
these players all seem similarly to have lost their high draft pick luster for the teams who took them and then gave them their first deal.