Auston Matthews wants extension with Leafs before next season
With another disappointing season under their belts, the Toronto Maple Leafs turn their attention to the offseason. Star player Auston Matthews has shifted his mindset into the offseason as well, as the former 60-goal scorer saying he wants an extension with the Maple Leafs before the beginning of next season.
“My intention is to be (in Toronto),” Matthews said Monday during the team’s end-of-season availability, according to the Toronto Sun’s Terry Koshan.
“I think I’ve reciprocated that before, how much I enjoy playing here and what it means to me, the organization, my teammates. … The work that we’re putting in to continue to strive for that end result is extremely motivating.”
Matthews views getting a done deal before next season as “very important”. The star noted that if it doesn’t get done, it will “will work itself out in due time.”
(All quotes are from theScore.)
Back in February 2019, the 25-year-old center signed a five-year, $58.2 million deal. Matthews earned around $11.6 million per year, including about $16 million in his first two seasons.
With NHL stars earning boatloads of money now, Matthews is almost certain to obtain a record-breaking deal before next season after joining a club of only 23 players scoring 60 or more goals, the latest being Connor McDavid and David Pastrnak in 2022-23.
Although Matthews has shown success in the regular season, similar to the Leafs as a whole, he plummets under pressure. Matthews scored five goals in the first round of a high-scoring affair with the Tampa Bay Lightning, but he was not able to convert on any chances in the second-round date with the Panthers. Matthews would end up with a total of only five goals and six assists this postseason.
With this shortcoming in the playoffs once again, the Toronto Maple Leafs have some big decisions to make this offseason regarding their star center.
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