NHL insider drops major Auston Matthews hint as Maple Leafs captain nears a potentially historic extension

Auston Matthews enters the new Toronto Maple Leafs season with more than a return to form on the line. The captain has two years remaining on his $13.25 million contract, but his next deal could reset the NHL salary market. Leafs insider Michael Augello believes Matthews could eventually seek between $19 million and $20 million per season if the coming season goes well. With the salary cap climbing and several elite players landing massive extensions, Toronto may soon face a defining decision on the future of its franchise star.Could Auston Matthews land a $19 million to $20 million contract?Augello’s prediction is tied closely to what Auston Matthews does this season. The 29-year-old has not produced at his previous level over the past two seasons, making the upcoming campaign particularly important for both sides.“This season is the key,” he said while appearing on The Leafs Convo podcast. “They’re never going to allow him to get to UFA. But if he scores 40 goals this year and they make the playoffs and he says he wants to stay in Toronto, the organization clearly wants to keep him here. Then he’s probably going to be asking […] a contract with significant terms, probably seven years max, and it’s probably going to be $19-20 million. That’s the reality now.”That number would be enormous, but the league has already started moving in that direction.Leo Carlsson agreed to an offer sheet from the Philadelphia Flyers worth $18 million per season, which Anaheim matched. Macklin Celebrini then signed an extension carrying an $18.8 million cap hit from next season. Cale Makar went even higher, signing a deal with a $20.4 million annual cap hit.Matthews does not need to beat those figures to command a huge raise. If he returns to the scoring form that produced 69 goals in 2023-24, a contract around that range becomes much easier to justify.When can Auston Matthews sign his next Maple Leafs extension?Auston Matthews cannot sign his next extension until next summer, giving Toronto and the player another season to assess where things stand.The Maple Leafs missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season for the first time in a decade, while general manager John Chayka has made significant changes across the organization. The club hopes those moves can put it back into contention, but Matthews’ individual performance will remain one of the biggest factors.His health is also worth watching. Matthews suffered a Grade 3 MCL sprain after taking a knee-on-knee hit from then-Anaheim Ducks captain Radko Gudas in early March. The injury ended his season, while Gudas received a five-game suspension.Matthews is expected to be healthy for training camp later this month. That matters because Toronto needs to see the version of its captain that can drive an offense before committing to what could become the richest contract in franchise history.For now, the situation is fairly clear. Matthews has time left on his current deal, but another strong scoring season and a playoff return could dramatically change the price of keeping him in Toronto.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.