Maple Leafs’ No. 1 pick has not ‘changed’ Auston Matthews’ mindset

The Toronto Maple Leafs may have landed the No. 1 overall pick after a disastrous season, but NHL insiders believe it has not significantly altered Auston Matthews’ approach to his future.

Speaking on The Sheet with Jeff Marek, ESPN insider Greg Wyshynski said Matthews remains deeply focused on evaluating the organization’s direction rather than reacting emotionally to one major draft win.

“I did some calling around on Auston,” Wyshynski said. “I don’t think that the Leafs grabbing the first overall pick has necessarily changed dramatically Matthews’ thinking going into next season or going into the offseason.”

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The comments arrive during a critical stretch for Toronto following one of the most disappointing campaigns in franchise history. The Maple Leafs finished 32-36-14 and missed the playoffs for the first time in ten years. The collapse included a 30-point drop in the standings, the firing of general manager Brad Treliving, and a season-ending MCL injury for Matthews in March.

Wyshynski added that Matthews is approaching the situation similarly to how Connor McDavid evaluated his own future in Edmonton last summer.

“He is contemplating,” Wyshynski said. “He’s doing the same thing that McDavid did last summer, being that they share an agent. And there’s a whole process he’s going through insofar as like what the new management intends to do in the short term, what the new management intends to do in the long term.”

Toronto’s rebuild around Auston Matthews faces pressure

The biggest issue for Toronto is timing.

Matthews still has two seasons remaining on his four-year, $53 million extension before becoming an unrestricted free agent in 2028. That gives the organization a narrow window to convince its franchise player that the team can return to Stanley Cup contention quickly.