Auston Matthews isn’t going anyplace.

The Toronto Maple Leafs’ govern middle signed a four-year, $53 million agreement extension throughout the 2028 season Wednesday. The untouched pact starts when Matthews’ stream five-year offer runs out in July.

At $13.25 million in line with season, Matthews turns into the NHL’s best paid participant when it comes to annual price, surpassing Nathan MacKinnon, who’s averaging $12.6 million on his eight-year agreement with the Colorado Avalanche.

“I feel fortunate to continue this journey as a Maple Leaf in front of the best fans in hockey!” Matthews posted to social media simply prior to the extension went community. “I will do everything I can to help get us to the top of the mountain. GLG!”

I believe lucky to proceed this progress as a Maple Leaf in entrance of the most efficient fanatics in hockey! I can do the whole lot I will to backup get us to the govern of the mountain. GLG! #LeafsForever

— Auston Matthews (@AM34) August 23, 2023

Matthews, 25, has been an elite play-driving ahead for the Maple Leafs since he was once drafted Disagree. 1 general in 2016. He’s a two-time Rocket Richard Trophy winner (in 2020 and 2021) because the NHL’s govern function scorer, posting 299 objectives and 542 issues in 481 regular-season video games — with every other 22 objectives and 44 issues thru 50 postseason tilts

He tallied career-best totals in 2021-22 with 60 objectives and 106 issues in 73 video games, an output that earned him a Hart Trophy and Ted Lindsay Award because the NHL’s Maximum Significance Participant.

Matthews already has situated himself neatly a number of the Leafs’ all-time franchise leaders, fasten for 5th in objectives scored and 2d with 9 time beyond regulation objectives. He additionally leads the NHL in objectives scored since 2016-17 and is eleventh general in issues.

The Scottsdale, Arizona, local was once because of grow to be an unrestricted independent agent for the primary occasion July 1.

Matthews has scored 45 extra objectives than any alternative American-born participant in NHL historical past thru seven seasons, in keeping with ESPN Stats & Knowledge.

Toronto’s newly instated normal supervisor Brad Treliving was once adamant from the beginning of his tenure in Would possibly that locking unwell Matthews long-term could be a concern. The Leafs wanted readability on the place Matthews would possibly fall when it comes to wage prior to Treliving may just flip his consideration to alternative staff issues, together with negotiating an extension for ahead William Nylander, who is also within the ultimate season of his agreement.

“I want to be in Toronto as long as I can,” Nylander mentioned previous this year, cautioning that he was once in incorrect speed to hurry a offer over the order.

Toronto could have 3 gamers in 2024-25 who could have a cap collision of a minimum of $10 million, with Matthews becoming a member of John Tavares ($11 million) and Mitch Marner ($10.9 million).

Toronto has reached the playoffs in each and every complete season since Matthews got here on board however has complicated generation the primary spherical most effective as soon as — once they crowned Tampa Bay in a six-game sequence ultimate spring. The Leafs adopted that efficiency up via falling in 5 video games to the Florida Panthers in the second one spherical.