Report: Toronto Maple Leafs trying to sign Auston Matthews to max-term deal

Well, Toronto, you might not have to wait much longer to get your franchise forward locked up.

Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman is reporting on the 32 Thoughts podcast that the Leafs are trying to sign Auston Matthews to an eight-year deal.

“I think Matthews, especially with the people around him, think there’s two more big contracts in his future. I think the Maple Leafs are going to try to get a max-term deal out of this,” Friedman said on his 32 Thoughts podcast on Friday. ” don’t know what the likelihood is, but I think they’re going to try.”

Friedman reported that new Leafs general manager Brad Treliving flew to Arizona to have dinner with Matthews to discuss his potential future in Toronto. Who was the last player Treliving met with for dinner, and then just a few days later, that said player signed a massive contract? Jonathan Huberdeau of the Calgary Flames.

Friedman seems convinced that this is going to work out. Both sides have made it clear that they want the deal done sooner rather than later. Matthews can officially put pen to paper on July 1.

His current contract expires at the end of the 2023-24 season, and he can sign an extension as soon as July 1. Matthews expressed his desire to stay in Toronto publicly before and at the end of the 2022-23 season. Just last week, Treliving hired long-time Coyotes player and former executive Shane Doan as a special advisor to Treliving; Doan was Matthews’s favourite player growing up.

The reigning Hart Memorial Trophy winner notched 40 goals and 85 points in 74 games; he added 11 points in 11 playoff games this season as he helped lead the Leafs out of the first round of the playoffs for the first time since 2004.