As the Toronto Maple Leafs continue to navigate the fallout from another early playoff exit, NHL insider Frank Seravalli floated a drastic idea that could change the team’s outlook from top to bottom.
Speaking on Sportsnet 590 The FAN, Seravalli suggested Toronto should not only be considering a separation from Mitch Marner, but also entertain the possibility of moving captain Auston Matthews.
Marner, 28, has just completed his six-year, $65.41 million contract. Matthews, however, still has three seasons left on his four-year, $53 million contract
"My guess is there’s probably a 99.9% likelihood that Auston Matthews is back with the Maple Leafs next year," Seravalli said. "But if we’re going to question and talk about Marner because he’s a pending UFA — and likely on his way out the door — the playoff failures also extend to Matthews as well."
Matthews, who scored 78 points in 67 games this season while managing a preseason injury, added just 3 goals and 11 points in 13 playoff games.
The Leafs' captain revealed during Tuesday's end-of-season media availability that the injury was sustained in training camp and impacted his game throughout the season.
"There were some good stretches where I felt good and some where I didn’t feel very good," Matthews said. "Definitely, it was a tough year physically."
Seravalli pointed to the contrast in Matthews’ regular-season dominance and playoff output, and suggested his recurring back issues could eventually factor into Toronto’s internal discussions.
"Again, I think it’s very unlikely that (trading Auston Matthews) happens," Seravalli said. "But inside that front office, inside those walls, those should be the exact type of conversations they should be having.
"If we’re blowing this up, how deep are we planting the dynamite?"
Marner, meanwhile, gave no clear indication on Tuesday that he intends to re-sign, saying only that he needed time to think.
"I haven’t processed anything yet," Marner said. "It’s still so fresh."
