Auston Matthews’ next contract could come with a built-in advantage for the Maple Leafs, and the new CBA may be the reason Toronto gets the upper hand.
Matthews is set to become a free agent in 2028, and plenty of the offseason noise has already revolved around whether he’ll still be wearing a Leafs sweater by then. At first, there were doubts about whether he would stay put through major changes, but some good luck and solid signings have since turned his confidence around.
Still, the clock is ticking. His deal runs out in 2028, which makes the next two seasons huge for Toronto. The Leafs need to be competitive fast, and they also need to be better positioned for a deep postseason run if they want to keep their captain from testing the market.
And if he does reach free agency, he’ll have no shortage of suitors. Reports have already linked the Los Angeles Kings to a major 2028 splash, with Matthews, Connor McDavid or even Zach Werenski potentially in play if they get to the open market.
Toronto’s edge comes from the new CBA rules. Current teams can re-sign their own players for up to seven years, while outside clubs can only offer six. That rule takes effect on September 16th, 2026, which is why Darren Raddysh was able to sign for eight years instead of the seven-year maximum under the previous CBA.
For the Leafs, that extra year matters. It gives them a chance to offer Matthews one more season of security and one more shot at a massive payday.
He’s making $13.25-million per year now, and with contract values climbing over the last two years, he’ll be aiming much higher next time around - at least $18-million, the same as Leo Carlsson.
That’s where Toronto can sell the deal differently than another team would. If another club comes in with five- or six-year offers worth $20-million, the Leafs can counter with a lower AAV but more years, and more long-term security.
Even a number above Carlsson’s, but still under $20-million, would leave Matthews with more total money if Toronto uses that seven-year window. His last contract was worth $53-million, and if the Leafs bumped him by $5.5-million to $18.75-million, the jump would be massive.
At $18.75-million over seven years, Matthews could make as much as $131.25-million. A six-year deal at $20-million would only get him to $120-million. That’s an $11.25-million gap, and it doesn’t even include the extra year of endorsements and other incentives.
If Matthews gets back to form and Toronto builds a team that can win, that kind of security could matter a lot. One strong season could change how he sees everything, and the more hope the Leafs can give him, the more likely he may be to stay.
If he does hit the open market, it won’t be fun for Toronto. But if the Leafs handle this the right way, they could keep their captain - and pay him an absurd amount to do it.
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Blue Jackets Fans Wont Love Why Werenski Is Back In Trade Talk
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That is why the speculative trade chatter keeps circling back to big names, from Dylan Larkin to Zach Werenski to Connor Hellebuyck, even if none of those possibilities is close to real. The Werenski idea, in particular, comes with its own obvious hurdle because Toronto would need more than just a willing trade partner, and the price would not be light. For now, Knies remains in Toronto, but the fact that he is still being discussed at all says plenty about how aggressively the Leafs are at least exploring their options. [Read more 🡒]