Rumblings expose Auston Matthews’ real issue in Toronto

The Toronto Maple Leafs are not having the kind of season fans have come to expect. After losing Mitch Marner last summer, the organization tried to move forward and fill the void. So far, the results have been underwhelming. Toronto’s 18-15-6 record isn’t disastrous on paper, but sitting seventh in the Atlantic Division is a far cry from the Leafs’ recent standards.

And when looking for explanations, it’s impossible not to focus on captain Auston Matthews.

The Leafs’ captain has just 15 goals and 27 points in 33 games, a noticeable drop from the elite production he’s delivered year after year since he came to TO. Injuries and the loss of Marner certainly play a role, but according to Jason Gregor, there may be more going on beneath the surface.

Speaking on Sports 1440, Gregor suggested that when a star player struggles this much, it’s fair to ask uncomfortable questions, including whether that player is truly happy where he is. Gregor even hinted that Matthews is not liking Toronto that much and could be unhappy, and that it may be a sign that his time with the organization is closer to ending than anyone wants to admit.

“I’ve heard rumblings that he’s not loving life in Toronto.”

Matthews is in the second year of a four-year contract that pays him $13.25 million annually. He still has more than two years before unrestricted free agency, but if Gregor’s speculation holds any weight, Toronto could face an unthinkable scenario sooner rather than later.

After already losing Marner, the idea of trading Matthews would signal something much bigger: the beginning of a full-scale rebuild in Toronto.

That outcome still feels far off. But something about Matthews’ situation over the past few months feels… different. The production isn’t there. The dominance isn’t there. And now, the questions are growing louder.

Matthews missed last game with a lower-body, but was seen on the ice on Thursday morning for the skate. It might just be about injuries… though he did confirm after practice that he’ll return to the Leafs’ lineup against the Winnipeg Jets tonight.

Is this just a slump? Or is Toronto watching the early signs of a much bigger problem unfold right in front of them?