This year’s NHL trade deadline was relatively muted. While some deals came together close to—or even after—the 3 p.m. EST cutoff, many of the biggest names that had been speculated on ultimately stayed put, making for a rather uneventful day around the hockey world.
There could be several reasons for that, but perhaps it’s a sign that were in for an active offseason. Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman certainly believes that’s possible, and he has his eye on Auston Matthews and the Toronto Maple Leafs as a situation that could generate plenty of headlines in the coming months.
“I think now it’s sort of like, okay, when do they sit down and talk about things in terms of his future and the team’s future? That’s probably the next big one. This has a chance to be a crazy offseason—I think it really does. And I don’t know what Matthews is going to decide; I haven’t had the opportunity to speak to him about it. But depending on where some of these teams go, it could be a really wild offseason,”
The 28-year-old Matthews has just completed the second year of the four-year, $53 million extension he signed with the Maple Leafs in 2023. He will, of course, become eligible for a new extension on July 1, 2027, meaning time is ticking on finding out whether he remains committed to staying in Toronto long term.
Next, after Matthews, the focus shifts to William Nylander and whether the organization is still committed to building around the two—and whether they can coexist after Nylander’s non-response to his captain and longtime teammate taking a cheap shot last week.
Beyond the Maple Leafs, plenty of other teams could create fireworks this summer. What if the Edmonton Oilers ? The Florida Panthers, New Jersey Devils, and New York Rangers all underachieved in a big way this season and could be in line for significant changes. Not to mention, there will be other teams that fall short in the playoffs and won’t find that acceptable themselves.
It feels like insiders say this about every offseason, but this year, it genuinely seems like we could be in for a fascinating summer full of movement.
Next: Who’s Really In on Matthew Knies? A Look at 5 Serious Contenders
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