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For those doom-and-gloomers worried about Auston Matthews leaving and heading for someplace other than Toronto, you might be able to breathe a bit easier.
On Friday’s 32 Thoughts podcast, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman indicated that Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving and Matthews met in Arizona to discuss his future, and after that meeting, Friedman is more convinced that the 25-year-old will sign an extension with Toronto soon after July 1. Matthews’ current deal has a no-movement clause in the final year of his contract, and the Leafs needed to know where the former Hart Trophy winner’s mind was at in terms of wanting to stay in Toronto.
Matthews said at locker cleanout last month that he wanted to stay with the Leafs and wanted to get a new contract done, but that became complicated after the dismissal of GM Kyle Dubas. The main bone of contention will be the term of the deal. A new contract will kick in when the 2016 top overall pick turns 27, and Friedman indicated that Matthews and his representative Judd Moldaver at Orr-Wasserman believe there are two more contracts in his future, which means that he likely will opt for a shorter-term deal instead of an eight-year max contract.
"34 ON THE BOARD!"
— LeafsJellyHD (@LeafsJelly) April 30, 2023
Auston Matthews 5th of the Playoffs vs Tampa Bay Lightning courtesy of Joe Bowen and Jim Ralph. #LeafsForever @BonsieTweets @Jim_Ralph
29/4/2023 pic.twitter.com/IPieF4qPVu
Friedman said that the Leafs will press for an eight-year max deal similar to what Colorado signed Nathan MacKinnon to, but they may have to settle for a four-to-five-year deal.
The other contract-related information was regarding pending free agent winger Michael Bunting. The Leafs and Treliving had a brief discussion with the Scarborough native's representatives and while the door may still be open for the pesky winger to return, TSN’s Chris Johnston reported on his podcast that Bunting, along with Alex Kerfoot and Justin Holl will be heading to the open market.
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