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The Official 2026 Off-Season Thread: Revenge of the Nerds

LeafOfFaith said:
This is either great or terrible, depending on how his health goes in the next year.
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It took the leafs 10 years to find a true 1c after mats. They were shit for a long time largely because of this. If they trade Matthews, it may be another 10 years till they're competitive again. He may be a shell of his former self, but he's still a legit elite 1c. If he's gone, they're gonna spend the next 5 years trying to replace him.

It took them 1 year to find the next Marner but 1. That's a winger and 2. They had to win a god damn lottery to do it.

Tldr: be careful what you wish for. You better hope and pray he stays, as good as the return package may be.
 
Unless AM is Actually Broken (tm), it's hard to see them winning any trade involving him no matter what the return.
 
LeafOfFaith said:
I don't think you understand what I'm saying. It would start with both Misa and the #2, and require more.

It may not make sense for the Sharks, but it wouldn't make sense for the Leafs otherwise.
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Quinn Hughes is 26, the best d in the world, and got less than that. Like it or not, we're all probably gonna be underwhelmed by any return for Matthews. If I felt otherwise, I'd be the #1 cheerleader for Team Trade Auston.
 
www.sportsnet.ca

Maple Leafs mailbag: How will GM John Chayka attack the off-season?

From the No. 1 pick to the head coach, the Maple Leafs face plenty of questions this off-season. Sportsnet's Luke Fox opened up the mailbag to dig into some potential answers.
www.sportsnet.ca www.sportsnet.ca

Toronto’s top seven D-men are all under contract for 2026-27, and of that group only Simon Benoit and Philippe Myers lack trade protection. The Leafs must get younger and more mobile on the back end. So, I asked Chayka your first question.

“Flexibility is a real asset, and obviously we don’t have that in that position,” the GM replied. “We’re gonna have to make some decisions and see how we can create some flexibility. But I’m aware that they’re under contract. Again, it’s a priority for us to try to find a way to improve it.”
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Toronto was top 12 in xG% and CF% for four straight years. Then Berube made a bottom-10 team in both last year, saved in 2024-25 by being second in sv%, and this year fell to 29th in xG% and 32nd in CF%. How can management justify bringing him back with league-worst numbers and a No. 1 pick incoming? —@Leafs_Storm

Chayka was essentially asked this exact question — and it’s a valid one — last Monday off-camera.

“Look, I understand data. I started a data company, as I’m sure you’re aware,” Chayka responded. “Data is one part of the puzzle. And I think you need to look at what a coach is given. You need to look at what he’s good with. And you got to take it into part of the entire holistic review of things. But I would definitely ask that question of Craig and get his input as well.”
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What gives is that Knies is the rare Leaf without any trade protection and Treliving was under pressure to recoup as many assets as possible at the trade deadline. The GM tried flipping his stud power forward into three pieces.

Chayka has had his eye on Knies since he played for the Junior Coyotes. He doesn’t sound eager to move him.

“Knies is a really unique player. I think his blend of size and skating and skill is really, really hard to find,” Chayka told me. “I’m not aware of what happened at the deadline or what previous regimes thought. I think Mats and I are going to go through and evaluate the roster and make some decisions. Ultimately, if you’re making a decision, you’re trying to get better. I think you’d be really hard-pressed to do better than Matthew Knies.”
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Chayka is just trying to determine what % of blame the shit xgf goes to who and it sure sounds like he's leaning towards Treliving deserving most of the blame.


I agree with this btw
 
Preston said:
Quinn Hughes is 26, the best d in the world, and got less than that. Like it or not, we're all probably gonna be underwhelmed by any return for Matthews. If I felt otherwise, I'd be the #1 cheerleader for Team Trade Auston.
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In a hypothetical situation where we’re trading Matthews this summer, it seems unwise to crib notes from one of the worst management groups in the league when it comes to deciding what would be an acceptable return for him.

I’d also argue that Hughes’ value was diminished by the virtual certainty that he’s going to play out the rest of his contract and then go sign on to play with his brothers in Jersey. As well as the fact he was dealt mid-season instead of with two full seasons remaining.
 
LeafGm said:
In a hypothetical situation where we’re trading Matthews this summer, it seems unwise to crib notes from one of the worst management groups in the league when it comes to deciding what would be an acceptable return for him.

I’d also argue that Hughes’ value was diminished by the virtual certainty that he’s going to play out the rest of his contract and then go sign on to play with his brothers in Jersey. As well as the fact he was dealt mid-season instead of with two full seasons remaining.
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This is the nicest implied thing you've ever said about Chayka 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰
 
Preston said:
Quinn Hughes is 26, the best d in the world, and got less than that. Like it or not, we're all probably gonna be underwhelmed by any return for Matthews. If I felt otherwise, I'd be the #1 cheerleader for Team Trade Auston.
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Hughes had one more year left on his deal and won't commit to re signing. They got what ~120 games of Quinn Hughes with a smallish chance of extending him was worth. The way to maximize Auston would be to send him somewhere he was willing to extend with.
 
MindzEye said:
Hughes had one more year left on his deal and won't commit to re signing. They got what ~120 games of Quinn Hughes with a smallish chance of extending him was worth. The way to maximize Auston would be to send him somewhere he was willing to extend with.
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Sure but he's younger and the best defenseman in the world. I wouldn't expect much more than that return. The returns for these guys are never all that great unless Chayka does some nerd homework and finds some undervalued guys. They'd have no choice but to do it, but the odds say that the trade will most likely be a loss. And the team will be worse.
 
Preston said:
This is the nicest implied thing you've ever said about Chayka 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰
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Don’t worry, my low opinion of the Jr Bacon Jerkoff has not changed even the tiniest bit. :)

Only difference is that the lottery win has given me enough of a shot of hope that I’m largely willing to shut up about it for the time being (though there will be some yapping if/when they announce Brooby’s coming back).
 
MindzEye said:
Hate to see a guy with that kind of championship pedigree leave the organization
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This is why I actually think that Mathews gravitates to those types of guys. Marleau, Joe, Doan.

I also don't think it is a coincidence that some of the trade partners for Mathews is San Jose and Utah.

(If we do a deal with Utah, I ask for Schmaltz and McBain plus a pick)

He and Biz are close and they probably feel slighted by the story of Chyka and Doan.

This is why I am leaning more towards to the trade Mathews side.

If he admires those perennial losers, and maybe the "no shows in game 7s" wasn't necessarily Mitch.. but more Auston. and now no matter what Chyka does isn't trusted by Auston, plus the knee thing....

Get rid of him now. with 2 years at 12 Million. and because he is damaged goods. He may struggle again with injuries.

Trade him to Utah (Phoenix)
Some type of package consisting of 1 of Schmatlz or Keller(didn't Chyka draft him),
Insist on Toronto Beaches boy 6'4 Centre MBain,
See if Durzi can be thrown in as I heard they may not be too keen to keep him. (and isn't he a Chyka pick as well)

Or let them keep Schmaltz/Keller and make the key piece Weegar plus Durzi, Mcbain and maybe even they throw in B Tanev... and then when he gets here Chris Tanev retires
-This comes with a first for next year

If you threw in Reilly...

Matthews, Reilly plus Robertson? or another roster minor roster player/contract: Schmaltz, McBain, Weegar or Sergachev (who knows what contract they may want to dump) Durzi and a 2027 1st.

San Jose:
Everyone is basing it on Misa being the main piece, but I say reach for Misa and Smith or Misa, and a Dman, Orlov, Ferraro, Dickenson... Add Reilly again and see if they want to add a contract back like Toffoli (Chyka again) or Goodrow who plays of their fourth line. at 3 mill. Maybe Wennberg and 2nd overall.

With that you take The best mobile defenseman in the top 5.

I'm on team move matthews
 
Hoss said:
his is why I actually think that Mathews gravitates to those types of guys. Marleau, Joe, Doan.

I also don't think it is a coincidence that some of the trade partners for Mathews is San Jose and Utah.
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I mean....Matthews didn't "gravitate" towards those 3. Those are who the organization brought in, without Matthews input.

also, those trade partners are made up trade partners, not teams that we've been in contact with about trading Auston, at Auston's request.
 
Dreger did say it today again. He says it every time there's a microphone in front of him. But he's been completely disconnected from mlse and has been either wrong or behind on everything for a good month or two now. Even more than he usually is.
 
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