The Toronto Maple Leafs have had their name in the news seemingly every day since the Mitch Marner trade to the Vegas Golden Knights last offseason. It has fans saying that this team wouldn’t be the same without him and in a roundabout way, they were correct. Something has seemed off with this team since the opening game puck drop. It may not be the loss of Marner exactly, but it could very well be the culture around the organization.
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Now, to make matters worse, this season there have been numerous reports suggesting that their captain Auston Matthews and the Maple Leafs were going to meet to determine his future. This has garnered mixed reactions. Some fans are anxious that he may actually want to leave, while some are welcoming the idea of a change. But now, after a report from Michael Russo of The Athletic, it appears that there could be a good chance that Matthews also welcomes a change. And that would come in the way of a trade with the Minnesota Wild, who are reported to be the most interested team in Matthews if he were to become available.
So, hypothetically, if he were to waive his trade clause to join the Wild, what would that trade look like? Well, let’s examine it.
Russo Reports Wild Could Eye Matthews this Summer
For the Wild to be the team that is most interested in Matthews should come as no surprise to anyone. Their GM Bill Guerin was bold enough to acquire Quinn Hughes from the Vancouver Canucks just a handful of months ago and now has his sights set on another massive American-born star.
But before we get into a potential mock trade, let’s look at the report from Russo and see what he had to say.
“There’s already speculation that something has to give in Toronto. Could that something be trading the now-injured Matthews? Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk (Hughes’ good friend) and St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas could also be available. Then there’s the New Jersey Devils, with Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier, although Tom Fitzgerald has no desire to break up his core.”
(from ‘Wild insider: After Quinn Hughes blockbuster, Bill Guerin is setting up his next superstar swing‘, The Athletic, March 16, 2026)
He later speculates that this offseason could be similar to free agency for players with trade protection. He named Matthews as a potential player who could eye the Wild as a destination. This could be true. The Wild have a very good team and with Guerin at the helm, Matthews has some familiarity from the 4-Nations and winning Olympic gold with him. Guerin has been very vocal about his love for a player like Matthews, and that could be the driving force behind him trying to acquire him. Of course, second is the desire to improve his already stacked team. If they were able to acquire him from the Maple Leafs, they would likely become league favourites to win the 2026-27 Stanley Cup.
Wild Land Matthews in Massive Offseason Blockbuster
If the Wild are a serious suitor for Matthews, the question would be what they could give up. Especially after they gave up a number of assets for Hughes. It is safe to say that if the Maple Leafs are trading their franchise player and captain, it’s not just a retool, but more of a rebuild. Which could mean that Toronto is willing to target prospects rather than just young NHL players and draft picks.
Maple Leafs receive:
Wild receive:
On paper it may look like a lot and it makes sense, Matthews is a world class player. However, because the Wild don’t have players like Marco Rossi anymore that can jump into the lineup right away for Toronto, they would likely need to pay a higher price for him. The top asset going to Toronto would be Wallstedt, who could lock down the crease alongside Joseph Woll. Which allows them to also trade Anthony Stolarz and get a bit more back in return in that deal.
Next, Stramel and Spacek are both in the Wild’s top five prospect pool. Spacek is a 23-year-old right-handed defenceman who has NHL potential. He may not be a top-pairing player, but he could be a second-pairing option who can be used in all situations. As for Stramel, he is listed as the Wild’s top prospect by Scott Wheeler at The Athletic (from ‘Minnesota Wild are No. 23 in Scott Wheeler’s 2026 NHL prospect pool rankings‘, The Athletic, March 18, 2026). He would have to be a part of this deal. When he is NHL ready, he has the potential to be a second-line centre, which is something that the Maple Leafs are in desperate need of.
The last player involved is Yurov, a 22-year-old Russian forward who has 25 points so far with the Wild. He is NHL ready and can be an effective bottom-six forward for years to come. He is under contract for next season and then becomes a restricted free agent.
Related: 7 Cool Things About Auston Matthews
The Wild would also need to throw in some draft picks, preferably first-rounders for a player of Matthews’ level. Which is why there are two first-round picks in the 2027 and 2028 NHL Drafts. It would be ideal if the Maple Leafs could get a bit of everything in this trade, and with this mock deal, they are. Wallstedt is the goalie they need. Stramel and Yurov are two forwards who can play within the top six and bottom six. Spacek is the right-handed defenceman who could play a similar role to what Jake McCabe does now. And lastly, the draft picks help set them up for the future.
Obviously, only time will tell what happens with Matthews’ future with the Maple Leafs. There are still some questions that need to be answered. But the biggest one is, if he does want to leave and potentially join the Wild, what will they get back for him? And will it be enough?
