The most important thing for the Toronto Maple Leafs to do is to lock up Auston Matthews.
Matthews is set to become an unrestricted free agent at the conclusion of this coming season. If the Toronto Maple Leafs do not sign him to a contract then he will be able to sign with any club of his choice on July 1, 2024.
As such, the pressure is on to extend the center as soon as possible.
Nick Kypreos of Sportsnet shared that there has been great headway on that front. While speaking on Fan 590 radio, Kypreos said that he heard from multiple sources that the Maple Leafs and Matthews’ camp have settled on an annual average salary (AAV) of $13.5M.
Leaked Auston Matthews Contract is Fair for the Toronto Maple Leafs
Kypreos also explained that from what he has come to learn, the two sides are yet to agree on the length of the contract extension.
If this is true, it’s great news for the Maple Leafs and Matthews. As one of the best players in the world, Matthews should be fairly compensated. This deal ensures that he will be.
This is a win for the Leafs because they get to keep their franchise player and elite goal scorer in Toronto. From the club’s perspective, the longer he’s with the team the better.
Ideally, this extension will last at least five years though the Toronto Maple Leafs are likely asking for the maximum of eight. While many fans may be shocked by a $13.5M cap hit, it will be considered a steal eight years in as the team salary cap continues to rise.
According to Cap Friendly, when Matthews signed his last contract in 2019 for five years, he was earning 14.64 – per cent of the salary cap. If the sniper’s salary eats less space than it did in 2019, that’s a clear win for the Maple Leafs. It would also be the best thing General Manager Brad Treliving has done so far in his tenure in Toronto.
For the skeptics who believe that $13.5M is still too high, let’s apply the same measure to the other member of the Toronto Maple Leafs Core Four whose contract is also set to expire at the same time as Matthews’, William Nylander.
In 2018, he signed a deal with an AAV of $6,962,366. At the time, that was 8.76 – per cent of the salary cap. If Nylander were to receive the exact same cap percentage beginning in 2024, he’d be earning $7,682,520. That would be an extremely team friendly contract.
Hopefully, whomever it was the Kypreos was speaking with had their facts straight. Ideally, Matthews signs this summer and the speculation that he’s leaving Toronto is over.