Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews still isn't sure if he'll be back with the club next season, league sources told The Athletic's Chris Johnston.
Matthews reportedly wants to see meaningful roster improvements through trades and free agency before committing to another season in Toronto.
The 28-year-old has two years left on his contract, which carries an average annual value of $13.25 million and contains a full no-movement clause.
During his introductory press conference on Monday, new Maple Leafs general manager John Chayka said he plans to meet with Matthews in the near future to discuss his vision for the team.
"It is our job to sell him on what we're capable of and reaching the ultimate goal, because I know that's what's most important to him," Chayka said. "How do we do that is not a sales job, I'd say. It's more of what's the vision, what's the plan, and the concrete steps that we're going to take to get the team to where he wants it to be."
Matthews was noncommittal about his future in Toronto after the club missed the playoffs for the first time in his 10-year career, saying he "can't predict" what will happen next.
The Leafs captain is coming off arguably his worst season, tallying 27 goals and 53 points in 60 games and notably missing the last 16 outings of the year with a knee injury.
A three-time Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy winner, Matthews is the Maple Leafs' all-time leading goal-scorer with 428 goals in 689 career games. He ranks fourth with 780 points.
However, Matthews hasn't been nearly as dominant during the playoffs, accumulating 26 goals and 59 points in 68 career postseason contests. Toronto has also won only two playoff rounds in the Matthews era.
