Kammala wannan jumla: A ƙarshen Yuni, Matthews an zaba shi na farko a cikin 2016 NHL Entry Draft by Toronto Maple Leafs, ya zama Ba'amurke na farko da aka zaba tare da babban zaɓi tun lokacin da Patrick Kane a
A shekara ta 2007. An yi tsammanin Matthews zai tafi na farko gaba ɗaya na watanni da yawa kafin taron, koyaushe yana saman jadawalin masu yiwuwa da manyan 'yan jarida masu bincike. Hasashen kafofin watsa labarai ya nuna cewa Matthews da ƙungiyar sun shiga cikin ƙaramin rikici na kwangila game da batun kari na wasan kwaikwayon; Matthews yana tambayar ƙungiyar don kwangila mai kama da na Connor McDavid ko Jack Eichel, waɗanda duka ana kimanta su da dala miliyan 3.775 a kowace shekara, gami da kari. Kodayake manajan janar na Maple Leafs Lou Lamoriello ya kasance a bayyane game da rashin amincewarsa game da hada da kari a cikin kwangilar 'yan wasa a baya, ya bayyana a fili cewa ba a taba samun kari ba yayin tattaunawar kwangilar Matthews. Lamoriello a baya ya shiga cikin rikici na kwangila yayin da yake tare da New Jersey Devils tare da zaɓa na huɗu na gaba Adam Larsson kan batun kari; babu wasu sharuɗɗan kari da aka haɗa a cikin kwangilar shigar Larsson.