Leafs’ Auston Matthews: ‘We owe it to the fans who come and watch us play’
The 2026 NHL Trade Deadline highlighted a significant shift for the Toronto Maple Leafs, who for the first time in a decade were sellers.
The Leafs moved Bobby McMann to the Seattle Kraken for two draft picks, Scott Laughton to the Los Angeles Kings for a draft pick, and one day prior moved Nicolas Roy to the Colorado Avalanche for two picks, one being a conditional first rounder.
Leafs’ captain Auston Matthews told reporters before Saturday’s game against the Tampa Bay Lightning that the team needs to play better down the stretch, regardless of the standings.
“We owe it to the fans who come and watch us play,” Matthews said.
Matthews vows no letdown in the remaining games, no matter the playoff circumstances. “We owe it to the fans who come and watch us play.”
Defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson told media he was happy to still be with the Maple Leafs, but called it a weird day to not have McMann, Laughton and Roy in the room. He reiterated his belief in the team going forward.
“We have some special pieces here. It’s about our mindset pushing forward. Just getting better every day,” he said. “I like our pieces.”
Oliver Ekman-Larsson reiterates his belief in the Maple Leafs going forward: "We have some special pieces here. It's about our mindset pushing forward. Just getting better every day. I like our pieces."
The Leafs are 27-25-11 with 65 points through 63 games in 2025-26. They are last in the Atlantic Division and eight points back of a Wildcard spot in the Eastern Conference.
Matthews leads the team in goals with 26, which combined with his 26 assists totals 52 points in 57 games this season. William Nylander leads Toronto in both assists and points with 37 and 58, respectively.
Among defenders, both Ekman-Larsson and Morgan Rielly have broken the 30-point mark, with Ekman-Larsson logging in a team-leading 35.
Joseph Woll is 13-10-4 with a .904 save percentage (SV%) and 3.13 goals against average (GAA) in 28 appearances this season. Meanwhile, Anthony Stolarz is 7-8-3 with an .891 SV% and a 3.37 GAA in 20 games.