REPORT: NHL Insider believes Leafs will make Auston Matthews the highest paid player - By ALOT

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Ryan
October 8, 2022 (10:54 PM)

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For the past few seasons, Connor McDavid has been the highest paid player in history and rightfully so, McDavid was getting paid $12,500,000 to absolutely tear up the league. Just a few weeks ago though, the Colorado Avalanche made Nathan MacKinnon the highest paid player by signing him to an 8 year deal with an AAV of $12,600,000.

But all signs point to MacKinnon losing that title by the end of next season as Auston Matthews will become a UFA and the Maple Leafs will be looking to lock up their superstar to a long-term deal which is going to be very costly.

Matthews just finished a season where he scored 50 goals in 50 games and finished the season with 60 goals, which has only been accomplished twice since 2007, once by Alexander Ovechkin and once by Steven Stamkos.

There has been plenty of rumours that Auston Matthews will leave the Toronto Maple Leafs at the end of his current contract as he will be a UFA, but if the Maple Leafs have something to say about it, he will be a Leaf for life.

According to NHL Insider Frank Seravelli, the Leafs will definitely make Matthews the highest paid player of all time:

In his recent Daily Faceoff piece, Frank Seravalli predicted that the Leafs will sign Matthews to an eight-year, $133.6 million ($16.7 million AAV) contract extension on July 1st, 2023.

If you think the Maple Leafs have salary cap problems now, just wait until a contract like this kicks in.