Has Auston Matthews ‘mentally left’ the Maple Leafs? What comes next

Maple Leafs’ core no longer looks untouchable

For years, Toronto treated Matthews, William Nylander, and Morgan Rielly as the foundation of a championship window. Now, analysts are openly debating whether the organization should reset entirely.

O’Neill suggested, “It might be time for both sides, for all of them — Nylander, Matthews, Morgan Rielly — to just say you guys have been great soldiers. You’ve been good people. You’ve had some nice individual stat seasons, but it’s probably time for us to go in a different direction.

“That’s a scenario that I could see happening. I don’t know what that organization down the street thinks of that idea, but it’s definitely something that should and could be in play.”

That opinion would have sounded extreme one year ago. After this season, it sounds realistic. Especially since the group never found playoff success, and in nine playoff appearances, they have just won two rounds.

Matthews’ injury has also changed the conversation. A Grade 3 MCL tear ended his season in March, and Toronto looked directionless without him. Even before the injury, the team struggled defensively and lacked structure away from the puck. Additionally, the Leafs never replaced Marner’s transition playmaking.

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Winning the NHL Draft lottery changed the Maple Leafs’ timeline

The organization’s outlook shifted again after Toronto won the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery and positioned itself to select Gavin McKenna first overall.

On the “Spittin’ Chiclets” podcast, former NHL winger Paul Bissonnette argued that Matthews leaving would not necessarily cripple the franchise.

“I think that they’re gonna be in a solid spot,” Bissonnette said. “Getting that first overall pick changes everything. If Matthews does decide he wants to leave, it wouldn’t be the worst thing if they stripped it to the ground because the return on even him and Nylander alone, you could build around Cowan, you can build around McKenna, obviously, and then the return you could get.

“If you’re sending those guys out the door, I’d imagine you’re getting three to four first-round picks. Hopefully, they’re high first-round picks, and then probably two to three roster players, including a few prospects.
So you’d get a boatload in return, and then the timeline would match up a little bit.”

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That is the key point. Toronto suddenly has options. Prospects like Easton Cowan, Matthew Knies, and McKenna (potentially) give the franchise a younger timeline to build around. The rising salary cap also gives management more flexibility than previous Leafs front offices had.

“For the Leafs, going from where their cap’s going to now getting the first overall pick, a lot has changed,” Bissonnette said.

None of this guarantees Matthews wants out. But for the first time in his career, the possibility feels connected to hockey reality instead of offseason drama.

The Leafs are no longer asking whether their core is talented enough. They are asking whether this version of the team has already run its course.