As much as Anaheim fans don't like the idea of trading a member of their young core or 1st OV picks, it's very possible that it would happen. However, Verbeek would habe to be very foolish to deal his 1C and his future/current 1RD for a 1C even if it is Auston Matthews or Connor McDavid. They won't be able to win a cup with either player alone so they aren't going to leave a hole in a key position that already needs to be filled.

Now if you factor in that Matthews might only extend for 4-6 years at 13M+, they might not even want to offer Zegras+ for Matthews. If they are doing Zegras+, that might look like Zegras+Lundestrom (former first)+ a future first round pick 2025/26. I think it's more likely though that there wouldn't be a circumstance where the Leafs have enough leverage to pry Zegras out of Anaheim unless signing him proves to be problematic for Anaheim.

Rental's don't hold that type of value. Matthews has 1 year left on his contract and Anaheim is like 4 years from even trying to compete. They could literally add Matthews to their roster for free and they would still be a bottom 5 team in the league with that d-core

With Matthews having a full NMC it isnt going to happen

The Ducks are a well run team, they arent going to give up the most marketable player in the NHL for a rental that still wont make us a playoff team

Talks are ended as soon as Zegras, Terry, Drysdale, McTavish, 2023 2OA, Zellweger, Mintyukov, Gaucher or Luneau are brought up. That is reality

Matthews is going to test FA whether he gets traded or not, no team is going to give up near market value, and its foolish to think anyone would without a guaranteed max term extension.

TOR is in the same position CGY was last off-season with Tkachuk and Gaudreau. Unless its a deal for a similar calibre player that is also expiring, from another team with playoff/cup aspirations, Matthews is going to be in TOR this season and test FA in the offseason

It isnt that ANA fans dont "like it". Its that we know it wont happen, and it isnt exactly hard to see why

No member of the young core, first from the last 5 drafts, or next 3 first round picks for any member of the big 4.

If we want to shoot our shot with Papi, we'll do so in free agency, which he absolutely WILL be testing is he doesn't resign with Toronto.

Why is that such a hard concept for other people to see? To make it worse the OP wants to remove the one good, young piece off that terrible defense corp setting the team back even further on the blue line.

What I was referring to Anaheim fans not liking, was the idea of a young core player or a 1st round pick being dealt in any trade, not specifically for Matthews. And while it is unlikely it's still possible. Pretty much every fan of teams that were/are in rebuilds are against the idea of trading even prospects and picks for (more) established players. Then they rule out trades based off that. Of course, blockbusters or trades in general don't happen often for this very reason but if and when it happens it's unpredictable.

I don't disagree that Anaheim probably won't be trading for Matthews. The Leafs aren't even going to try trading him and chances are he either resigns a short-term deal or ends up a FA like you said.

"Renting" Matthews for a full season is going to cost more than acquiring him as a rental at the TDL. Refer to the Erik Karlsson trade. Wont be this much but still a lot.

The fit isn't good as you suggested and the pieces don't make sense for Anaheim (giving up their future RD just to upgrade their C ) especially with the years of team control that tgey would be giving up, but a full year of Matthews isn't going to come cheap.

Erik Karlsson is the example I use nearly every time this topic comes up so I completely agree. I actually think they have very similar trade value, EK65 was a franchise level talent when he was traded and Matthews is one right now

This trade is very far off from that though. This is 2 essentially top 10 prospects in the league, plus a 2nd

A team like LA makes way more sense IMO. If I were to put a package together it would probably be something like Kempe + Vilardi + Spence + 1st. Maybe add in Walker to make the cap work.