Auston Matthews suffered a Grade 3 MCL tear and quad confusion, an injury severe enough to rule him out for the rest of the 2025-26 regular season (Image Via X/Twitter)
Trade rumors surrounding Auston Matthews have been gaining traction in recent weeks after a disappointing season and major organizational changes in Toronto; however, NHL Insider Darren Dreger predicted that top NHL teams like the San Jose Sharks and the Utah Mammoth have emerged as potential trade fits for Matthews, only if the Maple Leafs star decides to move.
Earlier, Matthews suffered a Grade 3 MCL tear and quad confusion, an injury so severe that it prompted him to miss the remainder of the 2025-26 regular season. The Toronto Maple Leafs captain has recently undergone surgery as part of his recovery from his severe knee injury sustained in a knee-on-knee collision with Anaheim Ducks defenseman Radko Gudas. It is to be noted that, till his injury, Matthews had 53 points (27 goals, 26 assists) in 77 games this season for the Maple Leafs (32-31-14).
NHL teams San Jose Sharks and Utah Mammoth emerge as trade fits for Auston Matthews, as per Darren Dreger
Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews has been dominating the headlines amid trade speculation, as the team is missing the playoffs for the first time in a decade, and Matthews has been out with a prolonged absence. Not only that, the speculation has gained traction as the club made significant organizational changes, including the dismissal of GM Brad Treliving, while the head coach Craig Berube with the team also remains uncertain.In this regard, NHL Insider Darren Dreger has stated that prominent NHL teams like the San Jose Sharks and Utah Mammoth have emerged as potential trade fits for Auston Matthews.
Speaking on the Barn Burner podcast, NHL insider Darren Dreger said, “Impossible to say definitively, San Jose would make some sense to me, I wouldn’t call them a frontrunner, but spitballing… I think Utah’s gonna be a big player here moving forward.
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The San Jose Sharks are a young team that has seen growth this season, while the Utah Mammoth is way stronger, with a worth of a staggering $1.45 billion, as reported by Forbes.
Reports suggest that both teams have the financial capacity to accommodate Matthews in a new contract.Earlier, Howard Berger also claimed that Matthews could be traded to a Western team like the Anaheim Ducks, Los Angeles Kings, or Utah Mammoth, which fueled the rumor. “Got something for you. Your favorite captain will be traded this summer to one of three Western teams: Anaheim, Los Angeles, or Utah. Mark it down.
[Auston] won’t be back with the Leafs,” Berger quoted his source in his Between the Posts column, which was dismissed by Elliotte Friedman.
However, with the speculations gaining attention, the trade might happen anytime soon during this offseason.It is also important to note that Matthews still remains under contract through the 2027-28 season on a four-year, in $53 million deal that carries a $13.25 million cap hit. However, his full no-movement clause gives him complete control over any potential move, making the trade complex.
