Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews spoke to media on Wednesday and was hopeful the team will add more key pieces towards a potential Stanley Cup run.
According to Sportsnet’s Luke Fox, Matthews spoke to the difficulty of the Atlantic Division and how the Leafs’ 38-20-3 record this season has put the team in a position to add.
“You look at our division, in particular. It’s obviously very tight, and we know management is gonna do the best they can. All we can do is just trust in them,”
“I mean, of course, you’d love to see a boost, I think, with the way that we’ve played this year and the position that we’re in right now.”
– Matthews told Fox
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The Maple Leafs will take on the Vegas Golden Knights Wednesday with every game mattering more than the last. Toronto is tied with the Florida Panthers at 79 points and the Tampa Bay Lightning trail just three points behind. The Panthers added once-star defenceman Seth Jones and the Bolts added to their forward group with Yanni Gourde and Oliver Bjorkstrand, further putting the pressure on the Maple Leafs.
“We feel really confident, really good about our team and our group,”
“But this time of year, obviously, you see teams adding, and you want to add as well.”
– Matthews told Fox
If the Maple Leafs opt to make a move it could propel them into the next tier of Stanley Cup contenders. They are listed with +850 to win the Stanley Cup and +160 odds to win the Atlantic Division. They will be pushing hard to win the top spot in the Division and solidify an easier first round matchup. A bet on the Buds to win the division should be under-consideration as they already sit in first place and are middle of the pack in remaining strength of schedule.
Toronto has been rumoured to be looking for a forward, more specifically a centre to slot in behind Matthews and John Tavares. Early connections have been made with Blues’ captain Brayden Schenn, Blackhawks’ centre Ryan Donato and Sabres’ high-end prospect Dylan Cozens. The Maple Leafs on the trade block appear to be 23-year-old winger Nick Robertson as well as high-end prospects Easton Cowen and Fraser Minten.
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Matthews, 27, has been limited to just 46 games this season but has remained a difference maker with 22 goals and 30 assists for 52 points. The Arizona product currently rides a ten-game point streak but has just a pair of goals in his last 15 games. The near-70 goal scorer last season is red hot and is long overdue for a scoring outburst.
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