Auston Matthews' Future with the Maple Leafs Just Got A Significant Update

Auston Matthews signed a four-year, $53 million contract extension back in 2023. This allows him to make $13.25 million per season. It also gives him extra UFA years so that he can make more money sooner.

He is going to be an unrestricted free agent in 2028, and with Mitch Marner presumably leaving the Leafs this offseason, there are now some fears about what Matthews will do next.

Luckily, Chris Johnston came through with some answers on his most recent podcast, and these should quell the concerns of Leafs fans everywhere.

Johnston revealed that as it stands, Matthews is not going anywhere. Furthermore, if he did leave, it would be because of a drastic shift in the franchise's goals.

For instance, if the team decides to rebuild during the year of his next free agency, then he will probably go elsewhere. But as long as they have a shot at the postseason, Matthews is going to stick around.

This is definitely good news, and it is something that Maple Leafs fans absolutely needed to hear amidst what has been an extremely stressful time to be a fan.

The Maple Leafs have yet to sign John Tavares and Matthew Knies. Meanwhile, Marner continues to toy with fans and refuses to make a decision.

Overall, losing Matthews would be a catastrophe, and every Leaf fan would protest in the streets if it ever came to that.

Luckily, he remains a Leaf, and he remains the captain. Hopefully someday, he can help the Toronto Maple Leafs hoist the Stanley Cup.