The longest off-season of Auston Matthews' NHL career may also have been the Toronto Maple Leafs' busiest.
After missing the post-season for the first time in the Matthews era, the Maple Leafs overhauled their front office as well as much of their roster.
However, the captain, under contract for two more seasons, remains in place — and appears optimistic about the team's transformation.
"No matter how successful you are, there's gonna be new players," Matthews told Maple Leafs team host Ryan Leslie in an interview published Tuesday. "And, obviously, there’s a lot more changeover this year than past from players and staff.
But I think it’s exciting. I think everybody really shares a common goal and common vision, and I think it's really important to create that unity, especially early on before camp, and I feel like we've done that.
Matthews' 2025-26 season ended in March after a collision with then-Anaheim Ducks defenceman Radko Gudas left him with an MCL tear and quad contusion in his left leg.
However, the 28-year-old said he is entering training camp"the best (he's) felt in a long time."
"For myself, the last couple years have been tough," he said."I haven't really felt super healthy, obviously, especially how last year ended, so for myself, I'm extremely motivated going into this year to get back to the level that I know I can be at, and I'm really excited to be able to show that."
Amid a spate of Americans fleeing Canadian markets — including Quinn Hughes from Vancouver and Brady Tkachuk from Ottawa — Matthews' own future in Toronto came into question over the off-season, too.
But Matthews said he's comfortable in the Ontario capital.
"This is home, and I've formed so many great relationships here, not just throughout the organization but outside of that as well. The passion, the city, the connection that you get with the fans and just how passionate they are is definitely something I don't take for granted," Matthews said.
On the management front, Matthews lauded new GM John Chayka, executive adviser Mats Sundin and head coach Jim Hiller for their alignment.
"I feel like they communicate a lot with one another and I think all of them obviously share a common goal and a common vision, which is to just live day by day," Matthews said. "We obviously want to have a great season, but every day we come in to the rink we want to have good energy, we want to have competitive practices, and I do think that all three of them are all on the same page when it comes to on the ice, off the ice, what the players need.
Organizationally, everybody seems to be on the same page, which is great.
Matthews added that he was"really happy" with the off-season roster makeover, which included additions such as veterans Sergei Bobrovsky and Nick Paul as well as top defenceman Darren Raddysh.
The Maple Leafs also brought in No. 1 pick Gavin McKenna and young blue-liner Emil Andrae.
"We got some really big personalities, which is great," Matthews said. "We've got some guys that are new here that have made themselves right at home, guys like Nick Paul, Raddysh, Gavin's fit in really well with the guys.
(Teddy) Blueger, little bit of a quieter guy, but all these guys have come in, I think just the energy in the room even in these last couple weeks with everybody has been great.
The Maple Leafs are set to open training camp this week, with their first pre-season game coming Saturday against the Montreal Canadiens. Toronto opens its regular season Sept.
29 also against its longtime rival.
MORE FROM SPORTSNET
Maple Leafs training camp preview: But will the major overhaul work?
Why Emil Andrae ‘couldn’t be happier’ with trade to Maple Leafs