I came across one hypothetical trading this morning that puts Auston Matthews in Detroit, and I didn’t even have to read it twice to make sure I hadn’t missed something overnight. It’s the kind of idea that gets people excited, even if it doesn’t survive much scrutiny.
But this trade is completely nonsensical. This is why.
Reason one: Matthews isn’t going anywhere unless he wants to
First and foremost, Auston Matthews has a full freedom of movement clause through 2027-2028. That means he literally cannot be traded without his consent. The Maple Leafs are not a rebuilding team; they’ve said it again and again. Matthews has every reason to stay in Toronto if he’s happy.
He is the face, heart and soul of the franchise. He built his legacy there, and unless he personally requests a trade, the Maple Leafs will keep him. Any conversation he gets turned away from is purely hypothetical, as the real mechanics essentially make it impossible without his buy-in.
Reason two: The price of the famous Matthews trade is ridiculous
Even if Matthews were to wave his NMC – and let’s face it, that’s a big if – the cost would be enormous. The trade features Lucas Raymond, Axel Sandin-Pellikka, Michael Brandsegg-Nygard and two future first-round picks returning to Toronto. Does it make sense? No.
That’s not just a high price; it’s a near-catastrophic blow to a young Red Wings core. On Toronto’s part, it would mean sacrificing the present for an uncertain future. You could argue that the Red Wings have the space and resources to make a move. However, the Maple Leafs are not in a position where they need to panic. Matthews’ value is astronomical, and any team that wants him would have to overpay in a way that would make Toronto weaker overall.
Reason three: For the Maple Leafs, stability beats speculation
If you step back and look at the whole thing, the Maple Leafs aren’t nearly as broken as some say. Morgan Rielly, William Nylander, John Tavares, Matthews – that’s still a pretty solid backbone for a team, even in a down year. And then you have young guys like Matthew Knies and Easton Cowan who are starting to find their feet.
Shaking that up for a hypothetical trade undermines everything the Maple Leafs have built. Matthews is still one of the most talented goalscorers in the game; his defensive play may have dipped a bit, and yes, he’s having a down year by his standards, but that doesn’t make trading him a smart move. The Leafs’ best bet is to keep him, add depth and get back to winning ways.
Ultimately, this Matthews trade is nonsense
Unless Matthews requests a trade — and there’s no indication he has — he’ll ultimately be in Toronto for the long term. Any talk of Detroit invading is fun to imagine, but in reality? Keeping their superstar for the Leafs is the only meaningful outcome.
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