Rebuild Still Possible For Maple Leafs Despite Matthews' Untouchable Report

Toronto Maple Leafs GM John Chayka is willing to listen to trade offers on any player other than captain and star center Auston Matthews, per a report from Chris Johnston. That means anyone - including star right winger William Nylander and left winger Matthew Knies – is in theory up for grabs.

Regardless of who moves out of Toronto, the report certainly suggests a full team rebuild is a very real possibility, even if Matthews doesn't want to be part of it a year or two from now.

This past season may have been a blip on the radar for the Maple Leafs. But who knows, maybe the Leafs get back on track next season with the first overall pick in this year's entry draft, some better fortune on the health front, and a bounce-back performance from their goaltenders. Toronto might sneak back into the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Report: Maple Leafs Willing To Listen To Other NHL Teams About Any Roster Player Except Auston Matthews

The Toronto Maple Leafs have a handful of star players, but according to a report, GM John Chayka and his staff are open to listening to other teams about anyone on the roster, except for captain Auston Matthews.

But if he moves Nylander for a king's ransom of picks and prospects this summer and comes out of it with a better-balanced Leafs team that can contend - not just for the playoffs, but be a legitimate Stanley Cup threat – then the pain of dealing Nylander would be worth it.

Getting a chance to draft first overall makes it a good time for Toronto to turn the page. Nylander has said he would be fine staying through a quick retool but not a full rebuild, and that could make it more likely he waives his no-move clause if Chayka wants to get younger and rebuild.

But that's the other key here – the Leafs could be stuck if their players with no-trade or no-move clauses dig in their heels and refuse to accept a deal out of Toronto. If that's the case, Chayka won't be able to get as much done as he otherwise may have hoped to.

Maple Leafs GM John Chayka Continues To Make Changes; Positive Sign As He Reshapes Front Office

New Toronto Maple Leafs GM John Chayka is wasting no time reshaping Toronto's front office, parting ways with two key executives, Derek Clancey and Brandon Pridham, to implement his own vision well before the high-stakes NHL draft and free agency. That's a good sign if you're a Leafs fan.

Still, there's no harm in Chayka trying to take big swings out of the gate. He's already fired coach Craig Berube and assistant GMs Brandon Pridham and Derek Clancey, and sooner than later, he'll turn his attention to significantly changing the Leafs' roster.

How much change he creates will be mostly up to him, but it says here that Chayka should take the most proven road to creating a year-in, year-out Cup-frontrunner Maple Leafs team by implementing a full rebuild.

Toronto's held onto its core for a decade now with limited success, so it's time for a new era in Leafs Land.

And that means being patient as Toronto embarks on the long road back to relevancy.

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This story was originally published May 22, 2026 at 11:59 AM.