Toronto Maple Leafs linked to multiple teams in new trade rumor including Canadian rival

The Leafs center depth has been tested this season as Auston Matthews has been out for most of November with a mysterious injury.

The team has been very quiet about the captain's status, refusing to share details about what he is going through.

However, the latest reports indicate that Matthews could return to the lineup soon as he has resumed skating with the team.

That being said, the Leafs have still been mired in trade rumors over the past week or so.

Team reporter Luke Fox has gone on the record saying that he believes general manager Brad Treliving has been in discussions with the Sharks regarding Mikael Granlund and the Habs for Jake Evans.

One other player who has been in trade rumors is Islanders forward Brock Nelson, another possible trade target for Toronto.

Matthews' absence has certainly created a sense of urgency in Toronto, but the team has not exactly struggled in that time.

In fact, the team is 6-1 in the seven games they have played without their captain. Their only loss was a 3-0 shutout against the Ottawa Senators on the 12th.

That being said, we cannot expect the team to keep this up. They still have plenty of star power in their lineup, but Matthews is undeniably their most important player.

Not only is he the captain, but he is also arguably the best goal scorer in the entire NHL. Some think he could even challenge Wayne Gretzky and Alex Ovechkin in that department.

If he continues to be out for an extended period of time though, look for the Leafs to be active in the trade market.