Auston Matthews and his future with the Toronto Maple Leafs could be the biggest story of the 2026 NHL offseason. After an extremely disappointing season, Matthews wants to see what the Maple Leafs can accomplish during the offseason before committing to another year. Therefore, there is a possibility that the Toronto superstar will request a trade this summer.
While it's highly unlikely in reality, what exactly would Matthews have to do to land in Detroit? Here's what needs to happen for the Detroit Red Wings.
Auston Matthews should request a trade with Detroit as destination
The chances of Matthews ending up in Detroit seem unlikely; However, there is one scenario where this could become reality. In a world where Matthews requests a trade from Toronto, he would have to be ready to play with the Red Wings. This is the first step for Detroit to acquire Matthews.
The 28-year-old center has a full no-movement clause in his contract, meaning he would have to approve any trade from Toronto. There have been several instances, including at the 2026 NHL trade deadline, where players refused to be traded. Most notably, this occurs when a player does not want to play in a specific city.
Matthews will likely have several places in mind when requesting a trade and it all depends on whether Detroit is on his list. If the Red Wings are not an organization Matthews wants to play for, that would eliminate any chances of the Maple Leafs acquiring the superstar.
It will be interesting to see if Matthews requests a trade from Toronto. The Maple Leafs recently won the 2026 NHL Draft lottery, earning the first pick in the draft in June. For now, that's not enough for Matthews to commit to Toronto for the 2026-27 NHL season.
However, what if the Red Wings are on Matthews' list? Removing him would require Detroit general manager Steve Yzerman to take an unprecedented step.
Detroit Red Wings to trade Farm for Auston Matthews
In a scenario where Matthews requests a trade and is willing to play in Detroit, the Red Wings would have to trade Farm. That doesn't mean the Red Wings have to trade every draft pick and prospect in their system. However, the organization may not be worried about Matthews not signing an extension.
In December 2025, Detroit was one of the teams in the mix for defenseman Quinn Hughes. Although the acquisition of Hughes would have been surprising for Detroit, the team reportedly did not want to pursue a deal without an extension. Therefore, the Red Wings no longer had a de facto player for the Minnesota Wild defenseman.
As for Matthews, Yzerman would have to send his prized possession to Toronto. It's very difficult to acquire superstars in the NHL, and Matthews would change the direction of the team in a big way. If the Red Wings have full confidence in Matthews, they should not delay in signing him to the organization.
The Red Wings have not made many major changes during Yzerman's tenure as general manager, with the most notable contribution being Alex DeBrincat. However, it appears that Detroit is eyeing a big move during the 2026 NHL offseason that will put them in playoff contention.
Matthews could become the biggest prize of the 2026 NHL offseason, and if everything aligns perfectly, the Red Wings will have to pounce on the opportunity.
READ MORE: Detroit Red Wings expected to make blockbuster trade in 2026 NHL offseason
