Auston Matthews faces growing pressure amid Toronto Maple Leafs roster rumors before NHL trade deadline

The Toronto Maple Leafs are again the focal point of much attention as the National Hockey League trade deadline arrives, and it is Auston Matthews whose figure is the centre of ever-increasing roster suggestions.

Being one of the top stars in the league, Matthews is the greatest asset of the team and its biggest enigma as far as long-run roster building and championship aspirations are concerned.The recent NHL trade rumors and discussions on the NHL news roundup have been directed at whether or not the Toronto Maple Leafs need to keep the same formula of building around Auston Matthews or they need to look at radical structural adjustments in the event they fail to win the postseason.

Although there seems to be no established trade plans, the discussion indicates the stress that is put on elite players in situations where their franchises are dealing with critical competitive choices and a shrinking timeframe to compete.

Auston Matthews and Toronto Maple Leafs trade rumor situation explained

In the latest NHL news, an insider, Elliotte Friedman, announced that the Toronto Maple Leafs have been talking to the camp of Auston Matthews despite the rumor, thus proving the transparency, but not the imminence of action.

The team continues to revolve around Matthews, though the wider challenges on the organization roster have brought up controversy.General manager Brad Treliving is in a complex situation. The Toronto Maple Leafs have several players who have long-term contracts with movement protections, and it is harder to make changes in the roster.The increasing pressure is also contributed to by performance expectations. Auston Matthews is still the offensive captain, but winning in the playoffs is the final gauge of improvement for the Toronto Maple Leafs.At present, it seems that Matthews is determined to remain in Toronto Maple Leafs, and no trade is officially confirmed