Matthews to sign team-friendly deal?

Auston Matthews signed a seven-figure sponsorship deal Thursday with Scotiabank and this could potentially have an impact on his eventual gargantuan contract deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

While more and more star players these days opt to negotiate for what they're worth and ignore the logistics of salary caps, lining Matthews' pockets with sponsorship and other non-hockey related money could have an effect on the number he accepts at the negotiation table.

To compare to two of his colleagues - Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel, they signed massive extensions that will kick in next season, with McDavid taking $12.5 million and Eichel $10 million.

Matthews could easily earn about as much as McDavid - but will he? Or will he settle for something more along the lines of Eichel's number? The salary cap is projected to increase to about $80 million next season so it may not matter as much, but if he signs a bit more of a team-friendly deal, it afford Lou Lamoriello to spend money on his other key youngsters like Mitch Marner and William Nylander.

Not to mention that the 2019 UFA class may feature Erik Karlsson, Drew Doughty, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Ryan Ellis, and Ryan McDonagh. It may be the perfect time for them to strike a massive deal for a top pairing elite defenseman. If Matthews can give a discount, much like McDavid reportedly did, it'll give the team more flexibility to complete itself with the best pieces and turn the team into a perennial contender.