Pedzisa mutsara unotevera: Mukupera kwaJune, Matthews akasarudzwa kutanga zvachose mu2016 NHL Entry Draft neToronto Maple Leafs, achiva muAmerica wekutanga kusarudzwa nesarudzo yepamusoro kubvira Patrick Kane muna
Muna 2007. Matthews akanga achitarisirwa nevakawanda kuti ave wokutanga mumutambo wose kwemwedzi inoverengeka isati yasvika pachiitiko ichi, nguva dzose achitungamirira chati dzevatarisiri uye vatori venhau vakuru. Media fungidziro yakaratidza kuti Matthews nechikwata vakange vapinda mukukakavadzana kwechibvumirano chidiki pamusoro penyaya yemabhonasi ekuita; Matthews aibvunza timu chibvumirano chakafanana neicho chaConnor McDavid kana Jack Eichel, avo vese vaive vanokosheswa pamadhora mazana matatu nemakumi manomwe nemakumi manomwe nemashanu pagore, kusanganisira mabhonasi. Kunyange zvazvo maneja mukuru weMaple Leafs Lou Lamoriello akanga akazaruka zvikuru pamusoro pekusafarira kwake kubatanidza mabhonasi muzvibvumirano zvevatambi munguva yakapfuura, akanga akajeka mukutaura kuti mabhonasi ekuita haana kumbova nyaya panguva yekutaurirana kwechibvumirano chaMatthews. Lamoriello akanga ambobatanidzwa muchibvumirano chechibvumirano apo neNew Jersey Devils nechina chisarudzo chechina Adam Larsson pamusoro penyaya yemabhonasi; kwakanga kusina zvikamu zvebhonasi zvakabatanidzwa muchibvumirano cheLarsson chekutanga.