Latest update issued on where Auston Matthews now stands in Toronto

Earlier this week, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman revealed that he spoke with a with one of the players on the Maple Leafs about Auston Matthews’ future in Toronto. In his last 32 Thoughts column, Friedman provided the latest update on Matthews’ situation seeing that many fans fear the superstar forward will want out after Kyle Dubas was let go as general manager last week.

However, Friedman believes that Matthews wouldn’t have negotiated a new deal prior to July 1 even with Dubas still at the helm. But that does not mean the star forward wants out:

“I’ve stated my prediction several times: he will sign an extension that takes him to around age 30 or 31, leaving him one more big contract before he retires. What I think this does is shift the timeline.

"One Maple Leaf indicated last week he didn’t think Matthews would sign by July 1 even if Dubas stayed, but it’s very hard to see it now under a new manager. Wednesday is 37 days from the first day he can sign an extension, and there’s so much to learn between now and then, starting with who the new manager will be and what is their plan. Therefore, Toronto will have to discuss its comfort level with allowing Matthews’ no-trade to kick-in heading into the final year of his contract.

"Under the Shanahan/Dubas regime, those conversations definitely took place. There seemed to be a comfort level they could keep Matthews long-term. We will see if the new regime feels any different, especially if it is Treliving — who lived through this last season.”

As a free agent after next season, Matthews can’t actually sign a contract until after July 1 anyways so fans need to calm down when it comes to everything happening in Toronto.

I’m pretty sure with the expected changed coming to the Maple Leafs this summer, Matthews wants to evaluate those moves prior to signing an extension. Also, the forward himself said the right things in his exit interview. He wants to sign in Toronto and wants to play long-term with the Maple Leafs.

Friedman’s update sure reassured a bunch of panicked Maple Leafs’ fans who’ve lived quite of bit of stress lately, but the sad thing is that more is to come for them this offseason.

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