Auston Matthews still wants to win in Toronto, GM says - ESPN

BUFFALO — Auston Matthews doesn't appear to have one foot out the door for the Toronto Maple Leafs as the organization shifts into its next chapter.

That's what Maple Leafs general manager John Chayka has taken from his interactions with the team captain, including during a recent trip to Matthews' home base in Scottsdale, Arizona, despite ongoing rumors of Matthews' dissatisfaction with the club.

The Maple Leafs missed the playoffs for the first time since Matthews was drafted No. 1 overall in 2016 and are searching for their fourth head coach of Matthews' 10-year tenure in Toronto, but Chayka was optimistic about the center's headspace.

«What I saw was a happy captain,» Chayka told reporters at the NHL scouting combine Friday. "[Someone] who's got a lot of pride in being the captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs, someone who wants to win in Toronto, which aligns with how we're thinking about it."

Chayka's confidence comes after Matthews was less committal at the end of the regular season.

«I can't predict the future,» Matthews said in April. «There are steps that have to take place. They have to hire new leadership and management. I don't know what's going to happen. I think that's kind of… like I said, I can't really predict the future.»

Toronto has undergone several changes the past few months, firing former general manager Brad Treliving in late March, hiring Chayka and senior adviser Mats Sundin and firing coach Craig Berube in May. Chayka has prioritized conversation, speaking with players and team personnel at all levels to get a sense of their feelings about the state of the franchise.

«Just listening honestly a lot,» Chayka said, «and hearing about how the season went, and the trends, and the things that we think