TSN Host Gets Into a Heated Rant Regarding Auston Matthews' Future in Toronto

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James Connelly
May 24, 2023 (4:57 PM)

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Auston Matthews' future is a widely debated topic and a TSN radio host let his thoughts run rampant live on air.

TSN Host Gets Into a Heated Rant Regarding Auston Matthews' Future in Toronto

Auston Matthews' future in Toronto is probably the most widely discussed topic in hockey right now other than the draft and the NHL playoffs. With that, people will be listening in on anything hoping to find out the future.

This morning on TSN's 1050s First Up, OverDrive's Bryan Hayes had some interesting thoughts on Matthews next contract.

"When it comes to [Auston] Matthews... he's gonna be the highest paid player in the league. That's gonna happen... The Leafs are aware of that. The Leafs know that. He's going to get the highest cap hit in the league. The highest cap hit right now is $12.6M. Nathan MacKinnon's got it. Matthews is up, it's gonna be $12.7M per year, plus. Like, that's what's coming. Whether it's a 3-year deal, 5-year deal, 7, 8-year deal.. there will be negotiating, there will be haggling there, but Matthews knows exactly what's going to be there. He's going to get a full no-move, full no-trade, a crazy amount of signing bonus money and he's going to be the highest paid player in the league. It's already going to happen and everyone knows it and the Leafs wants that to happen. Matthews, I'm sure, will be seeking that out, so it's about trying to draw a line in the sand for pushing it that much further and pushing back and being adamant that it's in the best interest of everyone, including Auston if he wants to be here, for it to be a 7 or 8-year deal if possible and for it to be closer to $12.7M per year than to $14M or $14.5M, $15M or whatever. That's where the Leafs have got to put their stake in the ground."

This is a very intriguing take by Hayes because it offers insight into what the superstar is considering. Matthews certainly has earned his next contract but the question will be how much will he earn.

With this being said, Matthews likely already has a plan in place and if the Leafs offer a contract he cannot refuse, he will probably sign that but otherwise, the future only Matthews and his agent know.