The are by no means guaranteed to trade Auston Matthews. But with two years left on Matthews' contract, the chatter has started. The rumors will persist. There will be at least some who believe the Leafs will end up trading away their captain. And if that happens, well, it will be just the beginning. in a new column on Monday that a Matthews trade would only be the first domino to fall. In e sence, if Toronto is willing to deal away Matthews, it might as well do even more. "Regardle s of what they got, how well they did in other words, in a franchise-changing transaction, the optics of such a move would be Zdeno Chara Jersey devastating: Arguably the best player in franchise history telling the world he doesnt believe he can win any longer in Toronto," Siegel writes. "Telling the world he doesnt believe in the Leafs, in other words." MORE: That would bring up questions about William Nylander. "What would that mean for William Nylander?" Siegel wonders. "Would the soon-to-be 30-year-old, still with six years left on his deal, want to stick around with Marner and Matthews both gone? Would the Leafs want him to stick around in that case?" Siegel then points to a John Tavares move, and a Jake McCabe move, too. And yeah, Matthew Knies could be a goner, as well. "Without Matthews and the prospect of competing for anything anytime soon, the Leafs might wonder whether they should even hang onto Matthew Knies or cash him in now with so much term (five years) left on his deal," Siegel writes. Even if Toronto did great in their trade returns, that likely wouldn't pay dividends right away. The Maple Leafs will surely try to hold onto Matthews, because the alternative could get bleak in a hurry. More NHL news: Matthew Maggio Jersey