Auston Matthews Isn't Sure He Wants to Stay in Toronto, Even After the Lottery Win

Here's the thing that should scare Toronto fans: winning the draft lottery didn't fix the real problem. Auston Matthews, the franchise centerpiece, is still uncertain about his future with the Maple Leafs despite the team's unexpected lottery win on Tuesday, according to an NHL source who spoke with ESPN. That's not the vibe you want heading into the offseason.

Matthews is 28 years old with two seasons remaining on his contract. He's got a $13.25 million salary cap hit and, crucially, a full no-movement clause. Translation: he holds all the power here. The star center hasn't decided whether he's coming back for the 2026-27 season or if he wants out to chase a Stanley Cup elsewhere.

The New Management Hasn't Even Met With Him Yet

New GM John Chayka just got introduced on Monday, and he still hasn't sat down with Matthews. That meeting is coming in the next few weeks, but think about what that timeline tells you. The guy who's supposed to be building this team around its best player hasn't even had the conversation yet. Matthews is waiting to hear what Chayka and Mats Sundin, the new senior executive adviser for hockey operations, actually plan to do. He wants to know the short-term vision, the long-term vision, and how they're going to build out the whole hockey operations staff. That's not impatience. That's a star player asking the right questions.

The Lottery Win Helped, But It Wasn't the Magic Bullet

Toronto winning the lottery? That's huge. They had only an 8.5% chance heading into the draw, and they got the first overall pick. They're looking at potentially drafting Penn State's Gavin McKenna, a star winger. That's real. But here's what matters: it didn't change Matthews' mind entering the offseason. It helps their case to keep him, sure. It doesn't fix what broke in the first place.

There's no timeline on when Matthews makes his call. Some reports floated mid-July, but nothing's locked in. The Maple Leafs missed the playoffs for the first time in 10 years, and now they're waiting to see if their best player sticks around to fix it.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.