The Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman has struggled through his first 13 games of the season. Head coach Sheldon Keefe says the player is injured and working through some things. STOCKHOLM — The NHL just wrapped up the 2023 edition of the NHL Global Series after the Toronto Maple Leafs finished it off with a 4-3 overtime win against the Minnesota Wild. After the game, Auston Matthews was asked about where he thinks the NHL should look next for its annual event. "I don't know, maybe Mexico City? That would be fun," Matthews replied. "Go home for a bit." The NHL has never ventured into that market but NHL's chief content officer Steve Mayer revealed on ESPN's The Drop podcast last month [https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/report-mexico-on-nhls-short-list-for-staging-global-series-games/] that Mexico was on the short list as a possible destination for the Global Series, an event the NHL has held annually since 2017. “Mexico City is on a short list because our teams are very interested in going there and exploring that market,” Mayer said. “There are teams that would really love to go to Mexico.” Matthews' mother Ema is from Mexico City so the star's interest in going south is understandable and Maple Leafs Sheldon Keefe seemed on board with the idea. "It sounds like a wonderful idea. I think it’s good for Auston. I know that’s a very important place to him," Keefe said. "I think more probably, more importantly, to have somebody like Auston, that would be so important to him, to speak to how diverse our game is, and, and how much it's grown." While teams closer to the sunbelt would make the most sense as candidates down south, the Maple Leafs being one of the teams due to Matthews' connection to the country makes a lot of sense. Players on the current teams being from the area have been a big factor in the league's criteria for selecting host cities for the event. Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAwNTk1MTUxMDE2NDM2ODQ0/cf1808c0-6a82-4298-9049-3eb2eae105b0.jpg] Related Maple Leafs' William Nylander Arrives and Leaves Sweden a 'Rockstar' in Fitting End to NHL Global Series [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/maple-leafs-william-nylander-arrives-and-leaves-sweden-a-rockstar-in-fitting-end-to-nhl-global-series] William Nylander Extends Franchise Record Season-Opening Points Streak to 17 Games [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/william-nylander-extends-franchise-record-season-opening-points-streak-to-17-games] Maple Leafs Dress Same Lineup Vs. Wild in Stockholm, Sweden, Where to Watch [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/maple-leafs-dress-same-lineup-vs-wild-in-stockholm-sweden-where-to-watch] News from THN.com 'He Wants to Be Needed': Patrick Kane Linked to Red Wings, Leafs and Sabres [https://thehockeynews.com/news/he-wants-to-be-needed-patrick-kane-linked-to-red-wings-leafs-and-sabres] THN Archive: 10 Ways Brett Hull Wanted To Change The Game in 2003 [https://thehockeynews.com/news/thn-archive-10-ways-brett-hull-wanted-to-change-the-game-in-2003] THN On The 'E': Red Wings ECHL Affiliate Toledo Walleye Off to Hot Start, and Opening the Mailbag [https://thehockeynews.com/podcast/thn-on-the-e-red-wings-echl-affiliate-toledo-walleye-off-to-hot-start-and-opening-the-mailbag]
