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Maple Leafs Open Roster to Offers While Keeping Auston Matthews Untouchable

The new front office plans to use the No. 1 draft pick to shore up long‑standing defensive weaknesses.

Overview

  • New GM John Chayka has told the league he will listen to offers on virtually every player except captain Auston Matthews, a stance that marks the start of a swift roster reset.
  • Matthews has signaled he is inclined to stay in Toronto provided the organization makes clear improvements to the roster and coaching staff.
  • Toronto faces a goaltending surplus of Joseph Woll, Anthony Stolarz and waiver‑exempt Dennis Hildeby, with league interest reported in Woll from the Philadelphia Flyers.
  • Veteran defenseman Oliver Ekman‑Larsson says he expects to return for 2026‑27, even as the club considers moving other veterans to retool the lineup.
  • Holding the No. 1 overall pick gives the Leafs a major asset that could be used to draft a top prospect, trade down for multiple picks, or be leveraged in deals as Chayka completes coaching hires and early summer moves.