Radko Gudas’ knee-on-knee hit on Auston Matthews has been the biggest storyline around the hockey world over the last week. From the hit itself to the lack of response from the Toronto Maple Leafs and the eventual suspension length, there has been no shortage of discourse and opinions on the matter.
That recently included Brady Tkachuk and Matthew Tkachuk on the Wingmen podcast backing their Team USA captain, expressing their displeasure with it all, emphasizing that the situation wouldn’t have happened on their watch. It’s another example of Matthew, in particular, praising Matthews, and given the uncertainty surrounding his future in Toronto, some believe the Florida Panthers star may be planting seeds in hopes of getting him to come to Florida.
Sid Seixeiro thinks that’s exactly what’s happening:
“Matt Tkachuk tampering? Yes, he is. What are you going to do about it? Imagine what they’re texting to him. The Matthew Tkachuks of the world,”
Dan Riccio echoed a similar sentiment:
“I can’t imagine there isn’t some correlation where they’ve talked to Auston about the situation, and maybe that’s bleeding into the conversation. The NHL will never go full NBA with players recruiting each other, but it definitely feels like a recruitment process could be starting around Auston Matthews’ future,”
The 28-year-old Matthews is, of course, in year two of the four-year, $53 million extension he signed with the Maple Leafs in 2023, eligible to extend again come July 1, 2027.
He’ll finish the 2025-26 season with a career-low 53 points (27 goals, 26 assists) produced across 60 games played.
This summer will be pivotal in deciding Matthews’ future in Toronto, and this absolutely won’t be the last we hear of his name in trade rumors or of others around the league buttering him up along the way.
If Matthews were to ultimately tell the Maple Leafs he’s not extending beyond his current contract, the Panthers would, as they always do, come up as a potential landing spot. Playing in Florida on a legitimate Stanley Cup contender alongside longtime friend and American teammate Tkachuk sounds ideal.
The main obstacle would be whether GM Bill Zito could put together a strong enough trade package and fit Matthews’ $13.25 million salary into the picture, while also factoring in a possible extension. Florida is actually slated to have more than $15 million in cap space this offseason, though goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky will need a new contract. Either way, it’s quite likely the Panthers would have to shed a sizeable salary to make a deal work.
All of that being said, if Matthews, who holds a full no-movement clause, insists on going to Florida, Zito and company have shown they’ll find a way to make it happen.
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