Check out the latest on the future of Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews and the latest Blues speculation in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.
QUESTIONS ARISE ABOUT AUSTON MATTHEWS’ FUTURE WITH THE MAPLE LEAFS
SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports Auston Matthews’ season-ending knee injury could “start the clock” on how the 29-year-old Maple Leafs captain feels about things in Toronto from the time the two sides touched base in February about his future.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Matthews suffered a season-ending knee injury on Thursday from a knee-on-knee hit by Radko Gudas of the Anaheim Ducks. A repeat offender, Gudas received what amounted to a slap on the wrist from the league in the form of a five-game suspension.
Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews (NHL Images).
Friedman believes Matthews will now have more time to think about his situation. He expects the two sides to meet over the next couple of months to determine how everyone feels about Matthews’ overall future in Toronto.
The lack of reaction to Gudas’ hit on Matthews from the latter’s teammates drew plenty of criticism in Leafs Nation. Friedman believes that will have ramifications for the franchise’s future direction.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Matthews is signed through 2027-28. Whatever the Leafs do this summer will determine if he’s still with the franchise before that contract expires.
Matthews’ injury represents the lowest point in what’s been a miserable season for the Maple Leafs. Change is expected in the front office and behind the bench, and there could be more trades. However, their captain’s future will be the biggest question hanging over this team in the offseason.
THE LATEST BLUES MUSINGS
THE ATHLETIC: Jeremy Rutherford recently examined how a Robert Thomas trade could affect the growth of the St. Louis Blues’ young players.
The Blues entertained trade offers for the 26-year-old center before the March 6 deadline. He is signed through 2030-31 with an average annual value of $8.125 million and a full no-trade clause.
Rutherford expects the Blues could revisit the situation in the offseason, when they could find a suitable offer and eventually ask Thomas to waive his NTC. However, he wondered what effect moving Thomas might have on young wingers Dylan Holloway and Jimmy Snuggerud, whose upward development is crucial for the club’s future.
DAILY FACEOFF: Jeff Marek and Steve Peters recently discussed what the Blues’ plans might be for the offseason.
Marek believes a lot depends on what strides their young players make. How quickly promising Dalibor Dvorsky becomes a legitimate second-line center will determine a lot of what management does in the offseason. He also wondered what would happen to Pius Suter if Dvorsky proves himself as a top-six forward.
Jordan Kyrou was among the Blues believed to be available. Marek pointed out that there had been talk linking him to the New York Islanders. Marek wondered if the Washington Capitals might be interested.
The Blues still require a right-shot defenseman. He thinks the Montreal Canadiens would’ve made sense for any type of Robert Thomas deal, because they have the right-shot blueliners that the Blues would covet.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Doug Armstrong will be handing over the general manager role to assistant Alex Steen at the end of this season, though he’ll remain as president of hockey operations. Armstrong will have input, but it will be Steen’s show.
Thomas said he remains committed to the Blues, that he was never approached about waiving his no-trade clause, and doesn’t want to be moved. He has full control over this situation. Management can continue listening to offers, but we don’t know what it will take to convince Thomas to waive his clause.
Kyrou is in the same situation as Thomas. He’s in the first season of his eight-year contract with the same AAV and a full NTC.
Nevertheless, we can expect to hear their names floating around in the offseason rumor mill. The same applied to goaltender Jordan Binnington, who has a year left on his contract with a 12-team no-trade list.