BREAKING : Auston Matthews Reveals Future as a Toronto Maple Leaf

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Austin Kelly
May 15, 2023 (12:16)

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Auston Matthews has announced his plans for his future as a Toronto Maple Leaf.

Matthews, the 2022 Hart Trophy Winner who enters next season as a Free Agent, confirmed he would like to stay with the Toronto Maple Leafs, if a deal can be reached.

Matthews confirmed at his end of season availability that he wishes to stay in Toronto, and believes an extension can be reached.

Matthews scored 60 Goals and 106 Points in the 2021-22 season, winning the Hart Trophy as the NHL's best player, but went down to a respectable 40 Goals and 85 Points, as Toronto ended their playoff run losing to the Florida Panthers in 5 Games in the second round.

Matthews signed a five-year contract extension in the 2019-20 season, and will be a UFA at the end of the 23-24 season. Along with Matthews, fellow Leafs star William Nylander is set to be a free agent at the end of 2024.

The Leafs had to wait until the 2018 signing deadline to finalize an extension with Nylander, and will likely hope to avoid a similar issue with their two stars again.

As well, the Leafs the season after have the extensions of Captain John Tavares & Mitch Marner, and Kyle Dubas, who has already faced the tough task of fitting his star roster under contract, and will once again face the pressure of having to do so, but luckily for him, will do so with a very willing superstar.

Auston Matthews has already been the target of FA rumors, one popular rumor linking him to his hometown Arizona Coyotes. But it remains clear that if all goes right, Auston Matthews is focused on continuing his time in Toronto.