A $134 million dollars contract for Auston Matthews?

PUBLICATION

Jeff Drouin
October 13, 2022 (7:31 PM)

SHARE THIS STORY

Although there are still two years left on his current contract, many experts expect Auston Matthews to sign a contract extension before the end of the 2023-2024 season.

The Toronto Maple Leafs forward will be free as a bird in two years, and as an Arizona native, he may very well intend to return home and sign a deal with his childhood team, the Arizona Coyotes.

However, as reported by Philippe Chênevert of Habsolumentfan.com, a reputable tipster believes Matthews will be a member of the Maple Leafs for several more years.

On his Daily Faceoff Live podcast, Frank Seravalli weighed in on the star player's next contract, and let's just say it might break the bank.

Even with two full seasons left on his current five-year contract, which he signed with the Toronto Leafs, everyone is wondering if he'll decide to come home by signing with the Arizona Coyotes. Personally, I think with what he said at training camp [I'm at home in Toronto], I have no doubt that Auston Matthews will be with the Leafs for a very long time!

I would even venture to predict that he will be the first player in NHL history to sign a max contract of $16.7 million per year for 8 years for a grand total of $134 million.

Wow! At $16.7 million per season, #34 would become the highest paid player in NHL history. Currently, Matthews is paid $11.64 million per season when he signed a five-year deal in February 2019.

Of course, there is still a lot of hockey to be played between now and the 2024-2025 season, but the fact that Seravalli is moving so far ahead on this issue shows that Leafs GM Kyle Dubas is proving that the organization believes in Auston Matthews.

Now the Maple Leafs must be able to make the first round of the playoffs by then, something that hasn't been done since the spring of 2004.