Unexpected report emerges about Auston Matthews’ contract in Toronto

Maple Leafs superstar Auston Matthews has mentioned it more than once: he loves Toronto and considers it home. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman does not doubt that, and believes he will sign a contract extension with the Maple Leafs.

However, he put it out there on the latest 32 Thoughts podcast that he does not necessarily believe it will be a long-term deal.

“I think he’s re-signing in Toronto, I don’t necessarily think it will be a long-term extension but I think he will extend, but my caveat always was, the big concern is what if this thing goes off the rails?”

While Friedman did not say that Matthews was unhappy with the Leafs, he feels like the Leafs and general manager Kyle Dubas have to “constantly take his temperature”.

There is still time : Matthews is set to become a free agent in July 2024 and the earliest he can sign with the Maple Leafs is July 1, 2023.

The insider did not specify what he meant by a short-term extension. Maybe this means Matthews would seek a three-year that would take him to age 30 and ready to burst into the free agency as a full mature player.

It probably mostly depends on whether Matthews is happy with the direction of the team and how he feels about testing the market on July 1, 2024 or staying put… a little while longer.

At the start of the season, Dubas commented on how the Maple Leafs will make it work to sign Matthews to the extension he deserves. The Leafs currently have their cap sheet structured to leave them with plenty of cap space when Matthews’ contract expires so that they can offer him everything.

It all depends if he wants it.