Maple Leafs General Manager Kyle Dubas announced today that he has called off all trade discussions involving star forward Auston Matthews. The decision comes amidst intense speculation in the hockey world regarding Matthews’ future with the team.
Dubas, who has been with the Leafs since 2014 and became the youngest general manager in NHL history in 2018, stated that Matthews remains a vital part of the organization’s long-term plans. Rumors had been swirling for weeks that the Leafs were considering trading Matthews due to salary cap constraints and concerns about his commitment to the team.
However, Dubas emphasized that Matthews is not on the trading block and that any talks suggesting otherwise were inaccurate. He praised Matthews’ contributions both on and off the ice, highlighting his exceptional skill and leadership qualities.
The announcement comes at a critical time for the Maple Leafs, who are looking to build on their recent successes and make a deep playoff run. Matthews, who was selected first overall by the Leafs in the 2016 NHL Draft, has quickly become one of the league’s top scorers and a fan favorite in Toronto.
With this decision, Dubas hopes to put an end to speculation and focus on preparing the team for the upcoming season. He expressed confidence in Matthews’ commitment to the Maple Leafs and reiterated his belief that the team has the potential to compete for the Stanley Cup in the near future.