As the Toronto Maple Leafs gear up for their annual team bonding trip, all eyes are on captain Auston Matthews—not just for his performance on the ice, but for his candid moments off it.

With the city’s relentless media pressure always looming, Matthews has found a clever way to lighten the mood, making headlines by playfully poking at local reporters right before the team’s much-anticipated getaway.

But beneath the jokes and lighthearted banter, there are deeper questions swirling about Matthews’ mindset heading into the new season.

After a year marked by injury and unmet expectations, the superstar is finally healthy and ready to reclaim his spot among hockey’s elite.

Yet, with major changes to the roster and the absence of familiar faces on his line, fans and critics alike are left wondering: Is this the year Matthews silences his doubters and leads Toronto to glory?

Or are there hidden tensions—both with the media and within the locker room—that could shape the Maple Leafs’ fate?

With preseason drama, ranking controversies, and a rejuvenated captain at the helm, the full story behind Toronto’s most intriguing hockey narrative is just beginning to unfold. Don’t miss what happens next.

Auston Matthews

Photo credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-Imagn Images

Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews has taken a subtle jab at the media in Toronto ahead of Leafs’ annual bonding trip ahead of the team’s final two pre-season games.

As the Toronto Maple Leafs enjoy their annual bonding trip, the timing couldn’t be better. These trips are designed to bring teammates closer together, give players a mental reset, and provide a much-needed break from the day-to-day grind of training camp.

For a team like Toronto, it also means a rare escape from the most intense media spotlight in the NHL.

Captain Auston Matthews has never shied away from sharing his feelings about the media. Earlier this offseason, he set a firm deadline for questions regarding former teammate Mitch Marner, stating that he doesn’t plan to field those types of questions after a certain point.

This week, just before the team embarked on their bonding trip, Matthews took a minute to poke some fun at reporters, joking that the trip is not just for a break from training camp, but that he’s looking forward to a little time away from reporters as well.

Leafs Captain Auston Matthews Poised for a Bounce-Back Season

By Matthews’ lofty standards, last season was considered a down year. Matthews fell short of the 40-goal mark and battled through injuries that kept him from being fully healthy. Still, he remained a productive force in the lineup.

This year, however, Matthews enters camp with a clean bill of health for the first time since his 69-goal season, which should have Leafs fans feeling optimistic.

With some critics speculating how his production might change without Marner on his line, and Matthews’ ridiculously low placement of 15th on the NHL Network’s Top 50 Players list has only given him more bulletin board material ahead of the 2025-26 campaign.

This Maple Leafs roster is one of the deepest in recent memory, and with extra cap space still available, management may not even be finished making moves.