Ziggy3 wrote: ↑06 May 2026 09:07 am
The Blues could make it work, and could probably offer an enticing package, but I just don't see how 2 years of Matthews right now is a smart move. I also don't see why Matthews would want to do it. This just isn't a team on the cusp of contention.
If we were on a different timeline and all of our young impact players were a couple years more mature and coming off a couple playoff years, then sure, go for it.
We may not be on the cusp but we also aren't a bottom dweller. It may be a situation where (if he truly wants out) the trade doesn't happen until training camp so he can look at what every team did in the off season.
Now if you are Toronto getting the #1 overall changes a lot of your off season as McKenna won't exactly replace Marner, but he will help scoring without a doubt.
Many teams may want to see how Mathews comes back from his knee injury first before offering a package.
I would imagine though, just like with Brady and with Quinn, that a team isn't offering a significant package for him without at least some assurance he will seriously consider extending.
Listening to NHL Network on Friday as long a shot as it seemed initially Friedmann reported that Hughes extending in Minny isn't that far-fetched anymore and that he is enjoying his time there and the team has a lot of promise.
Players come here, love it here, and quite frankly after the media circus in Toronto Mathews may very well prefer a lower key media town where he can just be himself.
