Ex-NHL Exec Believes Toronto Maple Leafs Are Making Auston Matthews a Scapegoat

Former NHL executive says Maple Leafs are unfairly blaming Auston Matthews as Toronto struggles with uneven results this season.

Mar. 1, 2026 at 2:15am

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Former NHL executive Craig Button believes the Toronto Maple Leafs are unfairly making Auston Matthews a scapegoat for the team's struggles this season. Despite Matthews' continued strong play, the Maple Leafs have faced uneven results and are currently tied for sixth in the competitive Atlantic Division. Button argues the team's management has failed Matthews by not properly supporting its top players.

Why it matters

The Maple Leafs have been one of the NHL's top teams in recent years, but this season's results have fallen short of expectations. The debate over whether Matthews is being unfairly blamed highlights broader questions about the team's management and roster construction.

The details

The Maple Leafs reached the Olympic break with a mixed bag of results, including three straight wins followed by three straight losses. At 27-21-9, they sit tied for sixth in the Atlantic Division, a far cry from the 100-point seasons they've posted in recent years. Matthews continues to produce at a high level, with 26 goals and 48 points in 51 games, but some criticism has been directed at him. Former NHL executive Craig Button believes the Maple Leafs are making Matthews a 'scapegoat' and that the team's management has 'failed' the star center by not properly supporting its top players.

  • The Maple Leafs closed the Olympic break with three straight wins against the Edmonton Oilers, Calgary Flames, and Vancouver Canucks.
  • Before that, they dropped three games in a row to the Buffalo Sabres, Colorado Avalanche, and Vegas Golden Knights.

The players

Auston Matthews

The star center for the Toronto Maple Leafs, who has recorded 26 goals and 48 points in 51 games this season and is under contract through the 2027-28 season with a full no-movement clause.

Craig Button

A former NHL executive who believes the Maple Leafs are unfairly blaming Auston Matthews for the team's struggles this season.

Mitch Marner

A key Maple Leafs player who was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights in July 2025.

Nazem Kadri

A former Maple Leafs player who has left the team over time.

Zach Hyman

A former Maple Leafs player who has left the team over time.

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What they’re saying

“I think they botched it, and I think by extension, they failed Auston Matthews. I think they have failed. It's too easy to just blame the player, I think, to just say, 'You don't do this, or you don't…' He's been, he's been the best goal scorer in the NHL for the last six, seven years, so I don't think anybody would debate that. And you know what they're doing in Toronto now? They're making Auston Matthews a scapegoat.”

— Craig Button, Former NHL Executive

What’s next

With the trade deadline approaching, Toronto is expected to look at moves involving depth players. Matthews remains the central figure on the roster, and the team now faces the task of improving its defensive play without shifting too much pressure onto its captain.

The takeaway

This case highlights the challenges facing the Toronto Maple Leafs, who have failed to support their star players like Auston Matthews and instead are making him a scapegoat for the team's uneven performance this season. The organization's management decisions over the years have come under scrutiny, raising questions about the team's ability to build a true contender around its top talent.