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Auston Matthews could be the biggest story of the 2026 NHL offseason. After a difficult season for the Toronto Maple Leafs, there are rumors that Matthews may request a trade to a different team. However, what does the Toronto superstar think about his future in the organization?

After the Maple Leafs finished the 2025–26 NHL season, Matthews commented on his future in Toronto. The comments certainly indicate that nothing is guaranteed.

“I can’t predict the future,” Matthews said. “There have to be steps taken. They’re going to hire new leadership in management and things like that. So, I don’t really know. Like I said, I can’t really predict the future.”

Instead of committing to the Maple Leafs, Matthews decided to step down. Toronto has some decisions to make and it could affect the 28-year-old’s future in the organization.

Why Auston Matthews would request a trade from Toronto

The speculation with Mathews is not going to end any time soon. After missing the playoffs for the first time in his career, the Maple Leafs star could be traded to a new team if he requests a trade. Currently, Matthews has two years left on his four-year contract with a $13.25 million cap hit. However, what would be the outcome of a potential trade request?

There are questions about Toronto’s future in the NHL. Following the firing of general manager Brad Treliving at the end of the season, there is a void in the Maple Leafs’ management. This has led to questions about the team’s direction and whether it will return to the Stanley Cup playoffs any time soon. If this is a rebuild, Matthews may want out.

Additionally, Toronto has only won two playoff series since Matthews was drafted in 2016. Despite the talent on the roster, the Maple Leafs have not made the Eastern Conference Finals since 2002. It is shocking to see a team with so much talent fail to meet the expectations set around the NHL.

Matthews said he “loves” being captain of the Maple Leafs; However, he did not give a definitive answer on whether Toronto is where he wants to play. It may ultimately depend on the new leadership, their direction and whether Matthews believes he can win a Stanley Cup Final in Toronto.

If not, Matthews could request a trade from the Maple Leafs as early as this summer.

READ MORE: Auston Matthews linked to surprise NHL team amid trade rumors

Austin Konensky is a writer at SportsNut, covering the NHL, MLB, NFL, NBA and more. His work may also…More about Austin Konensky

After considering the idea of ​​retirement, Al Horford decided to change things last summer and leave the Boston Celtics during free agency in favor of moving to the Western Conference to join the Golden State Warriors. The 39-year-old veteran spent a total of seven seasons in Boston, split over two separate stints, and he won a championship with the franchise in 2024.

Horford’s decision to join Golden State, his fifth different organization, was a surprise to many, especially those in Boston.

He had been a veteran leader of the Celtics for years, and Horford played a key role in the team’s success during and before the championship. Although leaving Boston was obviously a difficult decision for Horford and his family, he felt as if it was time to move on and finish his career elsewhere.

As for why Horford made this decision, the Warriors big man shed some light on the topic for the first time since deciding to join Golden State over the summer. However, the exact reason why Horford left is still unclear.

“The decision, it’s something that’s much deeper than basketball stuff. And it’s something I’ll share with people at some point, but for me, it felt like it was time for me to go somewhere else,” Horford told reporters in the Warriors locker room, via Bobby Manning of CLNS. “As far as the end of my career, I don’t know. I’m always keeping it open and it would definitely be a privilege to do that (return to Boston).”

“I’m just focused on trying to finish this year out.”

The Celtics insisted on cutting salary in the offseason, which is why they traded Kristaps Porzingis to the Atlanta Hawks and Jrue Holiday to the Portland Trail Blazers in the summer. This philosophy continued at the trade deadline, as the Celtics went from being a second-apron team in the summer to below the luxury tax at the deadline.

Whether money played a role in Horford leaving Boston is unknown, but from his tone and the reasoning for his departure it seems as if something was going on behind the scenes that upset the veteran. Although he would not close the door to a possible return to finish his career with the Celtics, Horford made it clear that his decision was influenced by something “deeper than basketball.”

In his first game against the Celtics after signing with the Warriors, Horford recorded five points, eight rebounds and four assists in 28 minutes off the bench. The Celtics defeated the Warriors 121-110 on Thursday night.