Maple Leafs’ Auston Matthews’ Post Sparks Trade Speculation When it comes to handling trade rumours’, the Toronto Maple Leafs are already faced with a challenging situation. In addition to all of the trade rumours’ involving forward Mitch Mariner, another member of the team’s Core Four has now raised the drama level in the rumours circulating among the Canadian team. On July 12, superstar forward Austin Matthews shared a photo of his dog on Instagram stories. Chris Gosselin of Hockey Feed claims that this action prompted “crazy” rumours about Utah Hockey Club standout Clayton Keller being traded. The dogs of Auston Matthews and Clayton Keller are playing together. Given that the two dogs are pictured near one another, it is reasonable to presume that Matthews and Keller spent time together in July. Fans transformed that brief Instagram tale into conjecture over a possible reunion in Toronto through a trade. But the fact that Matthews and Keller went to UFC 303 together at the end of June lends further weight to the rumours. Furthermore, Gosselin surmises that Keller may have been miffed by the Coyotes’ move to Salt Lake City, which may have prompted him to request a trade and force his way to Toronto. “Keller and the other players in Arizona have endured a difficult relocation process, and I have no doubt that he would not mind relocating to Toronto to play with one of his closest friends.” Keller signed an eight-year, $57.2 million contract in September 2019 with the Arizona Coyotes, who have since moved to Utah. He is now in his fifth season of the deal. Throughout his 520 games with the Coyotes, he has contributed 252 assists and 166 goals for a total of 418 points. Trade Pitch: Clayton Keller is sent to Toronto by the Maple Leafs During the offseason, Marner has garnered the most of trade-related news. Additionally, a user of the website PuckPedia, utilising a new tool called PuckGM, suggested a possible trade involving the unhappy forward that would send Keller to Toronto. Matthews’ pal Keller would arrive in Toronto with Dylan Guenther and Junuso Valimaki. In exchange, the hockey club received Marner, Topi Niemela, and Timothy Liljegren. Before the 2023–24 season began, Keller was questioned by PHNX Sports regarding the rumours that connected him to the Maple Leafs. Yes, but that is untrue. I’m just thinking about myself and the squad right now, and I adore these folks. As of September 11, 2023, this is where I want to be right now, Keller declared. What does Clayton Keller think of his friend Auston Matthews being drafted? The last time Matthews and Keller collaborated was at the 2024 NHL All-Star Game, which took place in February. Matthews selected Keller for his ASG squad. Keller remarked of Matthews on February 1st, “It’s great to be able to spend some time with him this weekend. We spend a lot of time hanging out, skating, and stuff like that in the summer.” “He’s a fantastic player,” Regarding the selection of #Yotes forward Clayton Keller in tonight’s #NHLAllStar draft, I questioned Auston Matthews: Likewise, Matthews attested that he “spends a lot of time with Keller in the summers” and called Keller “an incredible talent.” Additionally, Matthews stated, “We enjoy hanging out, skating, and working out together. We always try to play together on summer skates and we get along very well. “I sincerely hoped he would play for the team.” Mitch Marner’s intention is to sign a contract extension. Marner stated after the season that he would like to sign a new contract to stay in Toronto, whether the Maple Leafs (and their supporters) like it or not. Marner’s current deal with the Leafs has a complete no-move clause. He has a one-year contract with a $10.9 million cap hit remaining. He has the option to accept any transfer and complete his contract before turning into a free agency in 2025. That would be the aim, after all. I have said how much I adore this city and this place. Evidently, I grew up here,” Marner told reporters on May 6. “We’ll get to work on that right now and see what we can work out.” Marner has skated in 576 games in his career, netting 194 goals and dishing out 445 assists for a total of 639 points. He recently finished 2023–24 with 85 points from 69 regular-season games with the Leafs, including 26 goals and 59 assists. […]