Maple Leafs and Auston Matthews Come to Terms on Four-Year, $53 Million Contract Extension
The deal makes Matthews’ the highest paid NHLer on an average annual basis.
Auston Matthews reiterated that he loves it in Toronto.
Now the superstar has shown it as the Toronto Maple Leafs forward put pen to paper on a new four-year deal that carries an average annual value of $13.25, making him the highest paid player in the NHL on an average annual basis.
For much of the summer, the question was when and not if Auston Matthews would sign another deal with the Maple Leafs. That also followed with how long he’d sign for. With the salary cap expected to have a meaningful jump next season, there was a feeling that a maximum eight-year deal for Matthews wouldn’t materialize. At the same time, a very short extension would have had Maple Leafs fans reeling over the lack of commitment.
“I feel fortunate to continue this journey as a Maple Leafs in front of the best fans in hockey!” Matthews posted on X (formerly Twitter) after the signing. “I will do everything I can to help us to the top of the mountain. GLG! #LeafsForever.”
The four-year term appears to be a happy compromise here as the Maple Leafs get the most important off-season hurdle out of the way and Matthews is now under contract through the 2027-28 season.
Brad Treliving, who became Maple Leafs GM on June 1, had a long list of tasks for the summer. But cheif among those tasks was establishing a relationship with the Scottsdale, Arizona superstar. Now that Matthews is signed, Treliving can set his sights on other tasks left on his list, including William Nylander, who enters this season in the final year of his contract.
Matthews’ $13.25 million eclipses Colorado Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon’s $12.6 million annually that was agreed to last summer. The 25-year-old won the Hart Trophy in 2021-22 season after a year in which he became the firs player in 10 years to score 60 goals. He currently sits fifth among all-time Maple Leafs goal scorers with 299 and his 60 goals from two seasons ago is the franchise record for most in a season.
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