Auston Matthews to pull a Matthew Tkachuk in 2024?

Earlier this week, fans in Calgary found out another star forward wanted out. The Flames filed for club-elected salary arbitration with restricted free agent Matthew Tkachuk on Monday giving them more time to figure out what to do. But the top forward informed them he won’t be re-signing with the club, making a trade of the 24-year-old likely to happen soon. While Tkachuk has not demanded to be traded, he made it clear to the Flames that he is unwilling to make a long-term commitment to Calgary.

Flames insider Eric Francis of Sportsnet has covered the saga for the past weeks, especially as it intensified when Johnny Gaudreau walked away and signed as a free agent with the Columbus Blue Jackets. He mentioned how some American players currently playing in Canada could be more and more tempted to play south of the border, and went out to warn Toronto Maple Leafs fans that a similar scenario could take place with Auston Matthews:

“Toronto is a different animal than Calgary, but if you’re a Maple Leafs fan and you don’t think the threat of Auston Matthews leaving like compatriots Gaudreau and Tkachuk is real you are kidding yourself. At this time next year the club will need to know his intentions.”

In his article, Francis writes how the Maple Leafs will need to make sure they can avoid this saga with Matthews.

“It’s also a warning for Leafs fans who may very likely be dealing with a similar separation involving Auston Matthews next summer, when the team will try extending him before his no-movement clause kicks in for the final year of his contract.

Gaudreau, Tkachuk and Matthews are American-born superstars whose move to Canada was made by virtue of the draft.”

Even former NHLer John Scott shared a warning about Matthews and his future in Toronto: 

That’s quite the warning! Should fans in Toronto get nervous with everything that’s happening out West with Tkachuk? I see some biting their nails already…