In today’s NHL rumors rundown, the Toronto Maple Leafs could face major roster questions after a controversial hit on Auston Matthews, the Utah Mammoth may revisit trade talks involving Robert Thomas, and the Vancouver Canucks appear to be mapping out a long-term rebuild. Meanwhile, the Edmonton Oilers are being linked to a promising college free agent as they explore ways to bolster their depth this summer.
How much will Auston Matthews’ time away from the Maple Leafs impact his future with the team? His being gone could be a problem for a few reasons.
Maple Leafs Facing Fallout After Matthews Hit
A recent knee-on-knee hit by Radko Gudas on Auston Matthews has sparked debate around the Toronto Maple Leafs, not only because of the injury concern but also due to the lack of response from teammates during the game. According to Elliotte Friedman, the situation could have ramifications for the team’s future and Matthews’ place in it.
Related: Could Oilers and Maple Leafs Connect on a Knies and McDavid Trade?
Friedman suggested a lot has happened in a short span in Toronto and that the coming months could reveal more about how both the organization and Matthews view their long-term relationship. Some wonder if he’ll want to return. Others will ask why the Leafs are suddenly playing with a better effort since he went down. This feels like a team ready to go through significant offseason changes. How far do they reach?
At the same time, speculation around Matthew Knies has picked up. However, insider David Pagnotta noted that while the Montreal Canadiens were linked to the winger, the rumors may have been overstated. It is believed the Canadiens were kicking the tires on several big moves, and the one they came closest to was not Knies.
Mammoth Could Revisit Robert Thomas Trade Talks
The Utah Mammoth may not be done exploring ways to land a top-line center. According to David Pagnotta, the team is expected to circle back on potential trade discussions involving Robert Thomas of the St. Louis Blues.
Utah has signaled that it believes its competitive window is opening and that management intends to pursue high-end talent aggressively. They landed MacKenzie Weegar and tried to pull off other moves. Thomas was discussed heavily at the deadline, and he would fit the mold of the type of player the franchise could target to accelerate its push toward contention.
The expectation is that Utah will remain active in trade conversations as it looks to add key pieces before next season.
Several Teams Had Interest in Bobby McMann
When the Seattle Kraken acquired Bobby McMann, they weren’t the only club trying to land the forward. Pagnotta reported that multiple teams were poking around on the player before the deal was finalized.
Among the teams believed to be interested were the Columbus Blue Jackets, Los Angeles Kings, Colorado Avalanche, and Edmonton Oilers. Ultimately, Seattle secured the forward, but the level of interest highlights how valuable rugged, versatile wingers can become around the trade deadline. Who goes after him in free agency will be an intriguing storyline to watch.
Canucks Planning for the Long Term
The Vancouver Canucks appear to be taking a long-term approach to their roster construction. According to Irfaan Gaffar, ownership is fully on board with a rebuild that could take as long as five years for the team to become truly competitive again.
That doesn’t mean the organization won’t try to retain key depth players in the meantime. Insider Rick Dhaliwal reported that Teddy Blueger has interest in re-signing with Vancouver and could potentially secure more term there than he might on the open market.
Oilers Linked to T.J Hughes?
Meanwhile, the Edmonton Oilers are reportedly keeping an eye on college free agent T. J. Hughes from the Michigan Wolverines men’s ice hockey program. As noted by Jeff Marek, Edmonton scouts recently attended a Michigan game to evaluate the standout center, and Hughes is expected to draw interest from several NHL teams once his NCAA season concludes.
