'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Auston Matthews has penned his impending contract extension with the Toronto Maple Leafs. With a four-year $13.25 million AAV deal, Auston Matthews has become the highest paid hockey played in the NHL.
Auston Mathhews had one year pending on his current deal and would have hit the FA market at the end of the next season. With this extension announced, Leafs and Matthews have provided relief to fans.
Auston Matthews teased the extension on his X (formerly Twitter) handle before the official annoucement hit.
Trending
With Matthews signing the extension, the Toronto Maple Leafs have locked up No. 34 for four more years. That's four more oppurtunities the Toronto Maple Leafs have to bring back the Stanley Cup to Canada.
What does Auston Matthews' extension mean for William Nylander?
Auston Matthews' teammate William Nylander has been in the contract extension talks as well this summer. Earlier today, Nylander confirmed that he is currently not thinking about his extension and is instead focusing on the upcoming season.
When Matthews and Nylander signed their previous extensions, Nylander was the first to pen the contract which may he lead him to take less money that Auston Matthews.
Many suugested that Nylander should wait it out to see how much Auston Matthews' extension will be worth and demand a near-enough number for his own extension.
With Matthews now signing a $13.25 AAV deal, it remains to be seen how much Nylander's camp demands. But one can be sure, that it will not be less than $10 million AAV.
William Nylander wants to stay in Toronto
Earlier today, Tom Gulitti of NHL.com wrote that William Nylander is hoping that he can work out a long-term contract with the Leafs.
"For me, the contract, obviously, I want it to work where I can stay there and be there. There's no other place I want to play, but I still have one more year left. I don't understand why there's such a big rush to do something right now. I still have one more year left."
"I want to be in Toronto as long as I can," he said. "That's just where my mind is at."
Nylander mentions that his camp and Leafs have been in talks regarding his extension but those haven't reached any conclusions. The forward is prioritizing the upcoming 2023-24 NHL season.
"They had been talking, but I don't think there's been much going on about that," he said. "But I'm just focused on getting ready for the season and having my best season yet in order to help us take the next step, too."
