NHL Rumor Mill – April 3, 2026
Could the Penguins pursue Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews? What moves could the Leafs make to bounce back next season? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
THE ATHLETIC: In a recent mailbag segment, Josh Yohe was asked if he thought the Pittsburgh Penguins would pursue Auston Matthews if the Toronto Maple Leafs captain became available this summer.
Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews (NHL Images).
Given the previous relationship between Matthews and Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas, Yohe would be surprised if the latter didn’t look into it. He noted that the Penguins have the salary-cap space and trade pieces to make a deal.
Yohe believes the Maple Leafs would want promising Penguins forward Ben Kindel as part of the return, and he doesn’t know if Dubas would want to trade him. He also doesn’t know how keen the Maple Leafs would be to trade Matthews to the Penguins.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Maple Leafs downturn this season has fueled speculation over Matthews’ future in Toronto. He has two years remaining on his contract with an average annual value of $13.25 million and a full no-movement clause.
Yohe pointed out that he doesn’t know what’s going to happen with the Maple Leafs, or what Matthews might be thinking. That’s currently the consensus among most NHL pundits. For all we know, Matthews will be patient and see how things shake out next season under new management.
If so, the earliest Matthews would hit the trade block is next summer if he informs Maple Leafs management that he intends to go to market in July 2028. The last thing they’ll want is a repeat of the Mitch Marner saga, where uncertainty over his future hung over the club throughout last season.
Matthews would have complete control over the situation. If he becomes available, Dubas will likely look into it, but there’s no guarantee he’d want to go to Pittsburgh.
SPORTSNET: Justin Bourne proposed several ways for the Maple Leafs to improve next season.
One way would be to add a reliable right wing alongside Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies on the Maple Leafs’ first line. Bourne believes they don’t need to pursue a superstar to fill that role, suggesting they find a playmaker who is good defensively. He proposed going the free-agent route this summer by signing Viktor Arvidsson of the Boston Bruins or Jaden Schwartz of the Seattle Kraken.
Bourne also believes the Maple Leafs must add another meaningful defenseman. A possible UFA option could be Darren Raddysh of the Tampa Bay Lightning. He also thinks they should bring in a capable middle-six center such as Charlie Coyle of the Columbus Blue Jackets.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Maple Leafs lack tradeable assets this summer. However, they possess over $23 million in projected salary-cap space next season with 19 active roster players under contract, including all their core players. They can afford to add this summer.
This summer’s UFA market is thin on talent, which could send more teams into the trade market. That could leave the market open for the Maple Leafs to bring in some decent short-term options to help them stage a turnaround next season.
The downside is that players like Arvidsson, Schwartz, Coyle, and Raddysh might not be available. If they are, the Maple Leafs could end up overpaying to bring them to Toronto. There’s also no certainty that they’ll fit in with the roster.
This whole section is dedicated to the Maple Leafs. No wonder people are not posting here as often as they used to
Robert: First, the reason it’s about the Maple Leafs is because they’re the dominant story in the rumor mill this week after firing their GM on Monday. Second, people aren’t posting here as much right now because we’re a month past the trade deadline, which is what usually happens around this time of year when there isn’t that much regarding trade rumors. Had you been here a month ago (and based on your comment, I’m assuming you weren’t), you would’ve seen that the comments sections were busy as usual.
I hope that helps. Cheers!
Worth pointing out that on Bourne’s show yesterday he pointed out he was giving his thoughts on the team “retooling” not rebuilding. Basically that quickest way to get them back into a playoff spot.
Certainly not contend for a Stanley Cup. The Leafs have literally 1 potential 4/5/6 defenseman as legit a prospect. That’s it. No draft picks and an older roster with no trade clauses. Good luck retooling. Go chase those 2-3 home playoff gates. Back the Pension Plan Puppets we go!! Getting to old for this..
This is funny Would you rather be out there where in most sites it’s just made up BS you can comment there too But most of it is just a waste of time of time. What has your trade come down to Lyle. It must be embarrassing to work in your field anymore……this is giving the legit reports a bad name…..it’s just ridiculous
Wow a whole post on that team barely talked about…cool. I think the big takeaway is this sentence: “ Yohe pointed out that he doesn’t know what’s going to happen with the Maple Leafs, or what Matthews might be thinking. That’s currently the consensus among most NHL pundits.” Aka fake it, ‘til you make it. Pundits are gonna be the biggest gossip girls when it comes to this team…sit back and enjoy the show. 🍿😂
Click bait is rampant, but I get there are a few Gm’s who have talked in-house about how structuring a 3 yr. add on carrot contract Matthews way, if the talks do become reality.
And the Knies availablity seems far-fetched unless the return is a big fish and unprotected draft pick(s).
In the NFL, I love the draft b/c the speculations in mocks are generated outside the confines of the TRUE NHL team scouts, and it is fun to see how bad the predictions are.
But now in the silence period where no trades can be made, it is amazing how the “trade deals” stem from home town scrips, helping the ecite the fan bases, whether there teams have any intention in the pursuit of this guy or dat.
Scribs
Unless Mathews, for whatever weird reason, says Pittsburgh is the only option I can’t see a match. A bidding war with other teams puts kindel in play among other assets. It’s contrary to what Dubas has been doing. Now if Mathews limited his trade to Pittsburgh only id offer a 1st and a prospect.
I could see Matthews easily landing in LA or Vegas ( him and Marner back together) this offseason … Maybe Vegas would like to move Eichel to the Bruins
Bruins say yes to Jack 👍
3 way trade involving Vegas,Toronto,and Boston. To Vegas Matthews to Boston Eichel, to Toronto Minten,Lohrei 27 first round pick.
What assets do the Pens have that lands Mathews ? Kindel ?
Like the old sitcom Tool Time says …”I don’t think so Tim”
If anything materializes it will be west coast USA.
The rumor mill reheats around the draft and Free agency -no frenzy. Slow until then . Focus should be on the Cup Du Stanley
And I wouldn’t move a budding star for a guy who will likely want 15 mil on his next deal. With where the penguins are at now if the leafs asked for kindel it would be a non starter. He will be cost effective for close to a decade. And he’s not a prospect. He’s shown what he can do at 18 years old playing against the best.
Adding coyle or Swartz to an already older team sound disastrous to me. Those signing will set the leafs back a decade. I imagine those players will be looking for one final payday with at least 4 to 5 year term. If you trade Matthews and nylander now I still count that as a re tool. If you get the likes of a misa or mctavish I think you have some good young pieces to build around that includes Knies and Cowan. You would also likely add a few other prospects and first round picks in those trades. This in my opinion make the leafs a playoff team in a few years.
Rebuilds or re-tools (which often look like the same thing to me) take more than just a few years, Jeff.
Particularly as the Leafs have no first or second round pick in the upcoming draft.
And as it seems that neither Matthews or Nylander have said they want out at this point, it seems that this next season holds little promise for incoming players by trade, draft or signing.
But it does matter what the new GM has in mind, as Matthews or Nylander may change their mind and want out earlier.
So does adding a RW, a D and a 2/3 C make the Leafs a contender? No, it will just be a hail mary for a 2nd round exit. They should trade every veteran they have except Tanev, Tavares and a couple of more. Tank next season and try to be better in 27/28 to compete in 29 or 30.
The league should make it easier for teams to trade not harder because trades and trade speculation creates a buzz around the league, a buzz it needs, not less like they do know