IT IS DONE: St Louis Blues land Superstar Forward Auston Matthews in Shocking Trade With…

In a move that has sent shockwaves across the NHL, the St. Louis Blues have officially acquired superstar forward Auston Matthews from the Toronto Maple Leafs in what is already being called one of the most seismic trades in recent hockey history.

The Blockbuster Deal

The trade, finalized early Tuesday morning, sees the St. Louis Blues receive:

Auston Matthews (C), 2024 Hart Trophy finalist

In exchange, the Toronto Maple Leafs receive a significant package:

Robert Thomas (C)

Jake Neighbours (LW)

2026 First-Round Pick

Conditional 2027 Second-Round Pick

Future Considerations

Matthews Era Begins in St. Louis

Matthews, 27, is coming off another elite season, posting 58 goals and 42 assists for 100 points. The former first-overall pick has long been the face of the Maple Leafs franchise, but after years of playoff frustration and growing salary cap concerns, the Leafs’ front office made the bold decision to move him.

For the Blues, this signals a dramatic shift in direction. After missing the playoffs in two of the last three seasons, GM Doug Armstrong appears to be going all-in with one of the most prolific scorers of the modern era.

“This is a game-changing day for our organization,” Armstrong said during the press conference. “Auston brings elite talent, leadership, and a hunger to win. We believe he can help lead this team back to championship contention.”

Toronto’s New Chapter

From Toronto’s perspective, this marks the end of an era. Matthews’ departure breaks up the core that included Mitch Marner and William Nylander, and signals a possible full-scale retool under new GM Eric Tulsky.

Robert Thomas, 25, offers the Leafs a younger, highly skilled two-way center locked into a long-term, cap-friendly contract. Jake Neighbours brings grit, upside, and versatility, while the draft picks help bolster Toronto’s future flexibility.

“It’s never easy to trade a player like Auston, but we had to make a move that benefits us both now and in the long term,” Tulsky said. “We’re excited about the pieces coming back and believe we’re still very much in the mix.”

What This Means for the League

This deal redefines the power structure of the NHL. Matthews now joins a St. Louis core that includes Jordan Kyrou, Pavel Buchnevich, and Colton Parayko. With cap space freed up in Toronto, all eyes will be on what they do next — and whether more changes are on the way.

Fans in both cities are still reeling, but one thing is certain: the NHL landscape just changed overnight.