Maple Leafs’ new strategy in Auston Matthews’ contract negotiations leaked!

On Friday’s 32 Thoughts podcast on Sportsnet, hosts Jeff Marek and insider Elliotte Friedman discussed the likelihood of Maple Leafs superstar Auston Matthews staying in Toronto. Earlier today, we posted a report that new general manager Brad Treliving had traveled to Arizona to meet with Matthews to discuss the future of the organization and the impact it will have on the star forward’s next contract. Matthews can be signed to a new contract by the Leafs as soon as July 1 and the belief is that Matthews wants to get it done.

The meeting between Matthews and Treliving is a very positive sign for those hoping for a contract extension in the coming weeks.

“I have been convinced he’s signing. Now I’m even more convinced he’s signing,” Friedman said. “The thing I’m hearing right now (…) An extension is the most likely thing here.”

He added “the last time [Treliving] had a dinner with a player was with [Jonathan] Huberdeau in Montreal.”

Huberdeau ended up signing an eight-year contract with the Calgary Flames after meeting with Treliving who was GM at the time. The Maple Leafs’ strategy is just that, getting Matthews inked to a maximum deal.

“I think Matthews, especially with the people around him, think there’s two more big contracts in his future. I think the Maple Leafs are going to try to get a max-term deal out of this,” Friedman said. “ don’t know what the likelihood is, but I think they’re going to try.”

While the feeling is that Matthews wants to remain in Toronto, he might be looking for something on the shorter end in terms of years.

Matthews has signed two contracts worth a total value of $69,520,000 since being drafted in 2016. We all impatiently await to see what the next deal will be.

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