Auston Matthews, a top player in the NHL, inked a 4 year, 53-million-dollar extension with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The deal, averaging 13.25 million, has set the hockey world abuzz, with good reason. The contract for the Toronto Maple Leafs best player stands as a textbook illustration of a win-win scenario for both player and team.
Matthews’ prowess on the ice is unquestionable. His ability to score goals is the best in the league having the most 5v5 goals scored since entering the league in 2016-17.
His presence is key in the Maple Leafs championship aspirations, and by locking in this deal, they have secured the prime years of Matthews’ career.
A Triumph for the Toronto Maple Leafs
The financials may appear staggering at first glance, but they are reflective of his impact and are less than what he is worth on the open market. A star player of his caliber often signs close to the maximum percentage of the cap they can, which in this case is 20%.
Matthews’ contract is only 15.87% of the salary cap.
Four years at this rate provides ample wiggle room for the Maple Leafs going forward, with the salary cap projected to go up by around 4.5 million dollars before the start of the 2024-25 season – when Matthews’ extension kicks in.
In signing the extension, Matthews shows that he believes in this team and their vision. This faith ripples through the team and will hopefully result in William Nylander signing a team-friendly extension as well.
“Obviously, hearing that news coming in today, it doesn’t get much better than that for us here in Toronto and our fanbase,” said Tavares, after hearing the news on Wednesday afternoon.
For Matthews, the deal allows him to potentially become the first-ever player to make 200 million dollars when it comes time for a new deal in 2028.
By then he would have already made 111.195 million dollars and would only need to sign an 8-year extension averaging 11.1 million dollars to reach that lucrative 200 million dollar mark.
Matthews is undoubtedly one of the best players in the league and by the end of his extension in 2028 he will most likely be the best Toronto Maple Leaf of all time.
With that being said, the $13.25 million AAV is more than fair for both sides and all of Leafs Nation should be happy with the tidy job Brad Treliving and the rest of the front office has done.