Has Auston Matthews ‘mentally left’ the Maple Leafs? What comes next
The noise around Auston Matthews is no longer limited to trade speculation or frustrated fan reaction. It is now being discussed openly by former NHL players and insiders, following a disastrous 2025–26 season for the Toronto Maple Leafs that ended with the club missing the playoffs for the first time in a decade. Speaking on TSN’s OverDrive, former Leafs forward Jeff O’Neill questioned whether Matthews is still emotionally invested in the organization.
“I think if any of this stuff is starting to come out from credible people like our Chris Johnston, in my mind … I just think that the player’s already visually kind of mentally left,” O’Neill said. “He wants to leave because this stuff’s not coming out by accident, right? “So his buddy Mitch is gone, the team stunk last year, he’s been here a long time.
He’s had some great memories. He’s no kid anymore. Maybe he just wants to do something different, and that’s fine.
That’s totally fine. ” MORE: Auston Matthews emerges as early focus for Maple Leafs’ new GM John Chayka Those comments followed insider Chris Johnston reporting that Matthews may not be fully committed to staying long-term. Matthews still has a term remaining on his contract through 2027–28, but the discussion has shifted from cap management to organizational direction.
Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (34) looks up during a game. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images Toronto’s collapse created the perfect environment for this kind of speculation. The Leafs finished 32–36–14, allowed 299 goals, lost seven straight games to close the season, and fired general manager Brad Treliving before elimination became official.
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