With the NHL trade deadline set for Thursday, March 7, speculation is intensifying around some of the league’s biggest names — and the Los Angeles Kings have emerged as the betting favorites to land Auston Matthews if the superstar center is dealt.

In the ad — which debuted on Monday night while the Maple Leafs and Philadelphia Flyers faced off — Matthews and McDavid square off in their own miniature showdown, getting shrunk down to play with their own Star Sticks, which are new mini collectables at the fast-food chain.

Auston Matthews received a standing ovation from Toronto fans in his first home game since winning Olympic gold for Team USA against Canada in Milan.

The occasion of Toronto Maple Leafs fans booing their own captain on home ice — once unfathomable — came to fruition Saturday. All it took was Auston Matthews leading Team USA to a gold medal at the 2026 Winter

The Toronto Maple Leafs did as millions of North Americans did Sunday morning: They watched Canada play the United States in the Olympic men’s hockey gold medal game. The Leafs had a practice set to begin in a few hours, but one by one, most of the team gathered around a screen at their practice facility. They had national and personal allegiances.

For the first time in his career, Auston Matthews is reportedly no longer considered untouchable at the NHL trade deadline. While Toronto isn’t shopping him, teams are preparing offers and there has already been back-and-forth discussion.

Former ESPN host Keith Olbermann called his former “SportsCenter” colleague Linda Cohn a “self-obsessed politically motivated clown” following her remarks about Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews visiting the White House after Team USA’s gold medal win over Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Captain Auston Matthews and star winger William Nylander skated on the top line during Monday’s practice as the struggling Maple Leafs prepared to take on the visiting Philadelphia Flyers. Anthony Stolarz is the projected starter in net.