Auston Matthews Talks Maple Leafs Contract Extension, 'Intention' Is to Return to TOR

Toronto Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews has just one year left on his contract before he can hit free agency, but he sounded hopeful that he and the team could work out a long-term contract extension.

"My intention is to be here," he told reporters Monday. "I think I've reciprocated that before, how much I enjoy playing here and what it means to me—the organization, my teammates and how much I just enjoy being here."

Matthews, 25, will play the 2023-24 season on a $750,000 base salary with a $7.2 million signing bonus before hitting unrestricted free agency next offseason. If he is allowed to test the open market, a bidding war would undoubtedly emerge for his services.

He remains one of the most prolific goal-scorers and offensive threats in the NHL, posting 40 goals and 45 assists this past season in 74 games. It was his fifth season with at least 40 goals and his second straight season with 45 or more assists, though it didn't match his career year from the 2021-22 season (60 goals, 46 assists).

That earned him his second All-Star Game nod and helped him clean up in the awards department, winning the Hart Memorial Trophy, Ted Lindsay award and Maurice Richard Trophy.

He was not an All-Star this past season, however, though he did help lead the Maple Leafs to their seventh straight playoff appearance and ended a 19-year drought without a playoff series win.

The Maple Leafs knocked out the three-time defending Eastern Conference champion Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round before losing in five games to the Florida Panthers.

He paired with Mitch Marner (99 points), William Nylander (87 points) and John Tavares (80 points) to give Toronto one of the most dangerous offenses in hockey (3.41 goals per game, eighth in the NHL).

So Matthews remains a huge part of the Maple Leafs, and keeping him in Toronto is paramount in the quest to end a Stanley Cup title drought dating back to the 1966-67 season.

"It's huge," Mitch Marner told reporters regarding his teammate's desire to sign an extension to remain in Toronto. "He means a lot to this team. Hopefully that works out and that can happen."