Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews met with general manager John Chayka and senior executive advisor to hockey operations Mats Sundin over Zoom last week, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports.
Matthews was expected to meet with the Maple Leafs’ leadership group, to discuss their vision for the team. Amid reports that Matthews was uncertain about the team’s direction, it appears for the time being there’s nothing to worry about, following the first major meeting between the captain and new braintrust.
“I just don’t think an in-person meeting is feasible right now,” Friedman said on Monday’s edition of
32 Thoughts: The Podcast. “Toronto’s got coaching interviews and they just had their scouting meetings as well. There’s a lot to do. Matthews just had surgery. The idea of an in-person meeting in Arizona, just scheduling, made it extremely difficult to do anytime in the near-future.”
Matthews, Chayka and Sundin held a positive meeting by all accounts, with the leadership group outlining their plan going into the 2026-27 season.
“I understand at some point last week, there was a lengthy Zoom call. Matthews, I believe John Chayka and Mats Sundin were on it as well. And it was their first in-depth conversation. They still have to hire a coach. They still have to make some moves. They’d like to accomplish a few things to change their roster next year. And it’s not like they’re asking for Matthews’ approval or anything like that, or he’s making decisions or anything like that. But I think it was the first time they could really have a conversation about what they’re thinking, and what their plan is, and what their vision is and how they’re going to do it. I heard it was a positive meeting. Right now, we’re all watching the smoke signals, is there anything problematic here, is there anything for Toronto to worry about how Matthews feels? I was told right now, things are in a good place.”
Matthews is under contract through the 2027-28 season at a $13.25 million cap hit. He’s given no indication that he wants to leave Toronto, although some deliberately misinterpreted his quotes at end-of-year media day, where he stated he didn’t know what the future held. Toronto had yet to hire its next general manager, president of hockey operations at the time, while Craig Berube’s status remained in flux. Berube was fired on May 13.
It doesn’t appear there’s any reason to be worried about Matthews. Toronto will begin its new direction, aided by winning the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery, where the team is widely expected to select Penn State forward Gavin McKenna with the first overall pick. There will be several changes this summer, but there will be some constants at the very top, with Matthews on board.
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