Alex DeBrincat’s new extension is the kind of deal that makes the NHL salary conversation jump. At $13 million per season, it immediately resets the way some other big-money contracts look - and in Toronto, it should leave the Maple Leafs feeling pretty good about Auston Matthews and William Nylander.
Both Leafs stars are already earning more than $10 million a year, but DeBrincat’s number suggests the market is continuing to climb for top-end offence. When a player with his résumé lands at $13 million annually, Matthews and Nylander start to look even more efficient for what they bring.
That’s especially true when you line up the production.
Matthews is carrying a $13.2 million cap hit and has already piled up more than 400 career goals. He also hit 69 goals in a single season, doing it in 2023-24 while leading the NHL in goals and reminding everyone how dangerous he is when he’s rolling.
Nylander is at $11.5 million per season and has built a track record of his own. His 2023-24 campaign was his best yet, as he reached 98 points and continued to prove he’s a consistent offensive force for Toronto. That value became even more important after the departure of Mitch Marner, with Nylander showing he can keep producing alongside Matthews.
DeBrincat is a strong scorer too, but his offensive profile sits a step below those two. His career high is 41 goals, which he set in his first season with the Ottawa Senators in 2022-23. He’s also had multiple 30-goal seasons, which is nothing to sneeze at - just not quite the same territory as Matthews and Nylander.
The bigger question now turns to Matthews’ next contract. He’s due for another extension in 2027-28, and it’s already clear that the number is going to be massive. Based on where the market seems headed, it wouldn’t be a shock if he lands somewhere around $19 million on his next deal.
That figure will ultimately depend on the salary cap and whatever percentage of it he can command at the time. But one thing feels certain: Matthews is on track to become one of the highest-paid players in the NHL by average annual value.
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Leafs Chemistry Problem Is Putting Early Pressure On Jim Hiller
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The changes have come with an obvious tradeoff, because the Leafs are still in the stage where nearly every combination seems to be under review. Past coaches have long stressed how much consistent linemates matter, and this stretch is a reminder of why, especially for a team trying to build chemistry while the lineup keeps shifting around it. [Read more 🡒]
Flames Face A Tough Blue Line Call As Trade Buzz Builds
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For the Maple Leafs, the focus has quietly widened beyond the obvious names, with Calgary blueliner Zach Whitecloud drawing exploratory interest. It is still just that at this stage, a look rather than a move, and no formal trade has been made, but it fits the kind of search Toronto has been in as the Blue Line market starts to take shape. [Read more 🡒]
Bo Groulx Suddenly Looks Like A Leaf Fighting For His Spot
Bo Groulxs place in the Maple Leafs lineup is suddenly looking a lot less secure. Toronto head coach Jim Hiller chose to take Groulx out against the Utah Mammoth, a move that came with an unusual wrinkle: seven defensemen and 11 forwards dressed for the game, leaving the young forward on the outside looking in after a quiet start to the season.
Groulx has yet to record a point in five games this year, and his NHL resume still sits at 10 points in 83 games. For a team that is always weighing depth, fit and long-term flexibility, a decision like this can hint at bigger conversations ahead, including the possibility that Toronto is already exploring other options for how to shape the roster. [Read more 🡒]