Trade Pitch Would Form Jack Hughes-Auston Matthews Duo in New Jersey

The Auston Matthews trade speculation is one of, if not the biggest, talking points around the NHL heading into the offseason, and his lack of commitment to the Toronto Maple Leafs—even after they won the draft lottery—has only added to it.

---

Matthews wants to see what new GM John Chayka and executive advisor Mats Sundin do to improve the roster this summer, but can they wait with such uncertainty about their captain’s future? It’s all led to major buzz about a potential trade, and the latest landing spot floated by analyst Jonny Lazarus is the New Jersey Devils.

He wonders if a package of Nico Hischier, Simon Nemec, and a 2027 first-round pick would be enough to bring Matthews to New Jersey to team up with fellow American Jack Hughes.

Lazarus said:

“The potential in trading Auston Matthews—and I thought the Devils were kind of interesting with that too. Toronto would obviously need a center to come back and a defenseman, and I thought the package of Hischier with an extension obviously in place, Nemec, and a 2027 first-round pick is a pretty fair deal for Auston Matthews. We’ve talked about Auston Matthews, but the Devils never seem to be one of those teams that come up. Would you guys see that as a potential trade partner? I know we’re kind of doing hypothetical now, but I feel like with the Devils and with Sunny, everything is certainly fair to consider,”

The 28-year-old Matthews has two years remaining on the four-year, $53 million extension he signed with the Maple Leafs in 2023.

Both the Maple Leafs and Devils had extremely disappointing 2025–26 campaigns and could be in for big changes this offseason with brand-new management now in charge.

A one-two punch of Hughes and Matthews in New Jersey could be dangerous for the rest of the league, though whether Hischier, Nemec, and a draft pick would be enough to entice Toronto to deal their captain in conference is the main question and obstacle at play.

This, of course, all hinges on what Matthews wants, but until he provides clarity, more of these rumors and mock trades are going to surface.

Next: Current Maple Leaf Lobbying for Swedish Prospect Over Gavin McKenna?