Elliotte Friedman fuels blockbuster offseason trade speculation around Auston Matthews

Barring some kind of a miracle, the Toronto Maple Leafs are going to miss the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2016.

At the trade deadline yesterday, GM Brad Treliving traded Scott Laughton, who he paid a heavy price for last year from the Philadelphia Flyers, to the Los Angeles Kings. He also traded Bobby McMann, who had scored a career-best 19 goals so far this year, to the Seattle Kraken.

Even though it seemed completely outlandish, there were some rumours and whispers concerning the long-term future of captain Auston Matthews with the team.

Even though he wasn't traded by yesterday's deadline, NHL analyst Elliotte Friedman poured some fuel on speculation that his days in Toronto could be numbered.

Matthews, who was taken with the first overall pick by the Maple Leafs in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, was named captain of the team in 2024.

Former captain John Tavares, who re-signed with the team this past summer, ceded the captaincy to him but still has an "A" on his sweater.

But during Matthews' entire time with the Leafs, which will be 10 years this summer, they've won exactly two playoff series. There was already a major shakeup this past summer with the trade of Mitch Marner, what are the chances that Matthews potentially could be next?