Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews intends to report to training camp for the upcoming NHL season on the condition that management aggressively improves the roster during the 2026 offseason, according to a report by TSN analyst Darren Dreger on Thursday.
Speculation regarding the future of the star center intensified after Toronto failed to qualify for the playoffs during a disappointing 2025-26 campaign.
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The organizational shortcoming led to the dismissal of head coach Craig Berube, following the firing of general manager Brad Treliving in March.
Matthews currently has two years remaining on his contract, which carries a $13.25 million annual salary cap hit.
While outside trade speculation has emerged, including hypothetical scenarios involving the Philadelphia Flyers, reports indicate Matthews prefers to remain in Toronto if leadership secures immediate roster upgrades.
"There does seem to be now a growing sense that he's more than willing of course to get there in training camp.
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It's just his hope, and maybe expectation is a better word, that the team is better," Dreger said.
The Maple Leafs hold a significant offseason advantage with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, putting them in position to select top prospect Gavin McKenna.
Additionally, Toronto has engaged in trade discussions with the New York Rangers regarding forward Vincent Trocheck to bolster their lineup.
The 28-year-old Matthews is coming off a regular season where he missed 22 games due to injuries, including a severe hit from Radko Gudas.
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Despite the missed time, he recorded 27 goals and 26 assists, marking the lowest goal tally of his 10-year career after previously scoring 69 goals two seasons ago.
