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The Toronto Maple Leafs should consider this forward from the Minnesota Wild after noticing the chemistry he’s built with Auston Matthews.
There’s been a lot of discussion about finding the right linemates for Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews. Since Mitch Marner left, attention has turned to figuring out who can best support the star center.
It looks like the Maple Leafs might have found their guy. The catch is that this perfect linemate for Matthews doesn’t even play in Toronto.
This potential partner is Matt Boldy of the Minnesota Wild. Boldy and Matthews are both part of Team USA’s second line for the 2026 Winter Olympics. Together with Jake Guentzel from the Tampa Bay Lightning, they’ve shown some impressive chemistry.
As Team USA coach Mike Sullivan pointed out, Matthews, Boldy, and Guentzel are improving with each game they play together.
“Auston’s game is building. It’s getting better with every game, and those guys are building chemistry.”
The remarks shared by The Athletic’s Michael Russo and Mark Lazerus highlight how much more effective the Maple Leafs captain can be when paired with skilled teammates. Matthews scored two goals in Team USA’s 5-1 win over Germany on Sunday. He and his linemates keep enhancing their performance.
This development encourages Sullivan to give his squad space to find their rhythm. It seems like it’s starting to pay off now.
“We’ve exercised some patience with that group, because we feel like those guys are capable, and we try to give them an opportunity to build a little bit of chemistry, and I think it’s unfolding right in front of us. Tonight was their best game on both sides of the puck.”
Maple Leafs fans can only imagine what it would be like to have Boldy playing alongside Matthews permanently.
Is a Trade for Boldy Possible?
Since Boldy isn’t on Toronto’s roster, acquiring him would require a trade. But could such a move actually happen?
The Maple Leafs are looking to make changes while still competing. Adding someone like Boldy would be a significant step forward.
The Wild, however, are focused on winning now. Moving someone like Boldy would only make sense if they receive something substantial in return that could help them succeed immediately. This makes it unlikely that they’ll let go of Boldy easily.
But then again, anything’s possible. The Maple Leafs might be able to convince the Wild to trade away this former first-round pick.
The challenge is straightforward: The Leafs don’t really possess what the Wild need at this moment.
Boldy’s Move to Toronto Seems Unlikely
<p Unless there’s a dramatic collapse in Minnesota leading to major trades, imagining Boldy joining Toronto feels far-fetched. The Wild wouldn't consider trading him unless they received a top-tier player like Matthews or William Nylander in return.
Even so, trading away Boldy for someone like Matthews wouldn’t serve this discussion well either since the Wild need a top-six center themselves. Unfortunately for them, the Maple Leafs don’t have one available right now-they’re hoping for one of their own instead.
<p That being said, circumstances can shift quickly in sports. Never say never-even if a trade seems highly unlikely at this time.
Nestor Quixtan Seasoned NHL analyst and baseball writer focused on covering clubs across each league with news, analysis, and insights. Originally from Toronto, Canada, Nestor’s singular experiences and background have enabled him to bring a different take on the sports world as a whole. Nestor’s fondness for baseball and hockey set the tone for his love and passion for writing about sports. More about Nestor Quixtan
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