Auston Matthews' future in Toronto officially in question, and it may be the right decision

It seems as though just last season the Toronto Maple Leafs were seen as genuine Stanley Cup contenders, but after years of failing with the 'Core Four', things are now officially starting to fall apart.

The team have lacked major prospects coming through, they've got very few assets to make a big trade with, and now the injuries have found their way to Toronto, and with Auston Matthews among them, question marks have now been raised about the organization moving forward.

As we know, the Maple Leafs captain signed a short-term extension a few years ago, and with that deal set to expire following the 2027-28 season, many believe he could opt for free agency with the way the team is going.

It's no secret that the team is headed for one of the biggest drop offs in point production in NHL history even before Matthews was injured, but now, with the team selling at the deadline and potentially looking to prioritize the future, according to Chris Johnston, it may mean Matthews' departure.

Obviously, Matthews doesn't want to give up on Toronto given all that he's been through since arriving in 2016, but with the team needing to make a decision on their path forward, whichever they choose may be the move that alienates Matthews moving forward.

Ultimately, this is going to be one of the biggest stories in the NHL this off-season, and while we know Matthews wants to win a Stanley Cup in Toronto, if the team can't show a way forward, this is a story to keep a very close eye on.

Also read on House Of Hockey :
The NHL GM who confronted Gary Bettman yesterday revealed, and it proves only one team has true backbone